TheWrap has learned that Garrett Ventry, who will join NBC News’ election night coverage on Tuesday as a Republican analyst, is a registered foreign agent of Qatar.
Ventry is the principal of GRV Strategies, a lobbying firm that provides “strategic advice on dealing with Capitol Hill legislation and investigations,” according to its website. The firm also helps clients “obtain compelling articles in the conservative and mainstream press that will influence policymakers and the public.”
Qatar is described as the most important financial backer and foreign ally of Hamas. Former Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh resided in Doha from 2016 until his death in 2024.
It is unclear whether Ventry or NBC planned to disclose their ties to Qatar; neither the network nor Ventry immediately responded to TheWrap’s request for comment.
Prior to that, he was chief of staff to former Colorado Representative Ken Buck and senior counsel to New York Representative Elise Stefanik.
In September, Ventry registered as a foreign agent with the U.S. Department of Justice, and Qatar’s International Media Bureau was listed as his top foreign agent. Ventry will perform public relations and communications work on behalf of the media wing of the Qatari government.
O’Dwyers, a media outlet dedicated to PR news. It reported that Ventry’s deal with Qatar is worth $960,000 for one year of work.
Election night won’t be the first time Ventry has appeared on NBC. Earlier this year, Ventry was hired as a “Republican strategist” to talk about the Iowa Republican caucus and the Capitol riots on Jan. 6. He also appeared on “Meet the Press” last year. Ventry has also been a contributor to Fox News Channel, appearing on several programs and writing two editorials for the outlet, including an April 1 piece titled “Trump is right: Republicans need to reframe the abortion debate.”
In the movie X, Ventry was extremely optimistic about Donald Trump’s chances of returning to the White House.
“Trump is in a stronger position in the polls than he was in 2016, when he won, and in 2020, when the election was decided by tens of thousands of votes in a few swing states.” Published last month. Ventry hasn’t posted once about Qatar, apparently on X.
Qatar has been criticized for its harsh treatment of women, among other abuses.
According to Human Rights Watch, “women in Qatar must obtain permission from their male guardians to marry, pursue higher education on government grants, work in many government jobs, travel abroad up to certain ages, and have access to some forms of reproductive health care.”
In addition, “single Qatari women under the age of 25 need their guardian’s permission to travel” outside the country, and “single women who report sexual violence can be prosecuted for having sexual relations outside of marriage if not believed by the authorities, and sentenced to prison.” Up to seven years. Imprisonment, as well as flogging if they are Muslims.”