Pleased to welcome Ambassador Rufus Gifford as the Chief of Protocol of the United States. Ambassador Gifford has previously served as our U.S. Ambassador to Denmark, and I very much look forward to working with him again.

— Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) January 5, 2022

I took the oath to serve as Chief of Protocol of the United States with the rank of Ambassador 🇺🇸

An honor like this so rarely comes around – let alone twice – and I promise to serve with dignity, respect and heart.

— Rufus Gifford (@rufusgifford) January 3, 2022

🙏 @WashBlade

As I read this I am humbled & reminded that gay people were routinely denied security clearances in the US as recently as 1995. As a twice confirmed Ambassador, I think about my predecessors denied these opportunities. Progress 👍🇺🇸🏳️‍🌈https://t.co/jZgyVy8mkI

— Rufus Gifford (@rufusgifford) December 20, 2021

Confirmed by voice vote: Exec. Cal. #320 Rufus Gifford, of Massachusetts, to be Chief of Protocol, and to have the rank of Ambassador during his tenure of service.

— Senate Cloakroom (@SenateCloakroom) December 18, 2021

Cruz blocked another Biden nominee:

Republican Ted Cruz objected to a Democratic request to unanimously confirm Rufus Gifford as chief of protocol at the State Department. Under President Obama, Gifford was confirmed unanimously by the Senate as Ambassador to Denmark.

— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) December 8, 2021

WH makes official nomination of Rufus Gifford, one of seven openly gay ambassadors during the Obama administration, to become State Dept. chief of protocol pic.twitter.com/I3SKmXi8Tl

— Chris Johnson (@chrisjohnson82) May 28, 2021

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