23 Facts About Rufus Gifford

John Rufus Gifford was born on August 5,1974 and is an American politician and diplomat who was finance chair of the Harris 2024 presidential campaign since July 2024.

Rufus Gifford was the chief of protocol of the United States from 2022 to 2023.

In 2012, Gifford was finance director for Barack Obama's presidential re-election campaign.

Rufus Gifford lost in the Democratic primary to Lori Trahan, who won the general election.

Rufus Gifford was Deputy Campaign Manager for Joe Biden's 2020 presidential campaign and Finance Chair for 2024 presidential campaign.

Rufus Gifford graduated from St Paul's School in Concord, New Hampshire, in 1992 and he earned his Bachelor of Arts from Brown University in Rhode Island.

Rufus Gifford started in Democratic politics by working on John Kerry's 2004 presidential campaign, and subsequently started his own consulting business and advised numerous Democratic officials and advocated for progressive causes across the country.

Rufus Gifford first met Senator Barack Obama in January 2007, at a party hosted by Senator Ted Kennedy.

Rufus Gifford was sworn into the role on August 15,2013, and presented his credentials to the queen of Denmark on September 13,2013.

Rufus Gifford outlined a diplomatic strategy that prioritized non-traditional audiences and people-to-people relationships.

When it was renewed for a second season, Rufus Gifford made the announcement himself speaking Danish in a video posted on Facebook.

Rufus Gifford was an integral part of bringing the American art form of Long Form Improvisation to Denmark.

On January 16,2017, Rufus Gifford was awarded the Grand Cross of the Order of the Dannebrog by Her Majesty Queen Margrethe II of Denmark for his "meritorious service to the Kingdom of Denmark".

On November 13,2017, Rufus Gifford announced on Twitter that he was running for Congress in Massachusetts's 3rd congressional district in the 2018 United States House of Representatives elections in Massachusetts.

Rufus Gifford was endorsed by US senators Tim Kaine and Sherrod Brown as well as Valerie Jarrett.

On January 24,2020, Rufus Gifford endorsed Joe Biden for president in the 2020 Democratic Party presidential primaries.

In January 2021, Axios reported that Biden would tap Rufus Gifford to be Chief of Protocol of the United States.

Rufus Gifford was officially nominated by Biden on May 28,2021.

Rufus Gifford resigned as Chief of Protocol in July 2023 to assume a position on the Biden 2024 presidential campaign.

Rufus Gifford discussed coming out as gay on the Danish TV series that chronicled his life while ambassador.

Rufus Gifford married his husband, Dr Stephen DeVincent, a veterinarian, on October 10,2015, in a ceremony at Copenhagen City Hall in Copenhagen, Denmark.

In 2016, Rufus Gifford co-wrote a cookbook with his husband, called The Ambassador's Kitchen.

Rufus Gifford is a Federal Club Member of the Human Rights Campaign and a Partner in Conservation for the World Wildlife Fund.