Trump considers plan to replace Tillerson with CIA chief: U.S. officials
Rex Tillerson
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump is considering a plan to oust Secretary of State Rex Tillerson  whose relationship has been strained by the top U.S. diplomat’s softer line on North Korea and other differences  senior administration officials said on Thursday.
 Tillerson  was reported in October to have privately called Trump a “moron ” something the secretary of state sought to dismiss.
That followed a tweet by Trump that  Tillerson  should not waste his time by seeking negotiations with North Korea over its nuclear and missile program  widely seen as a sign of the secretary of state being marginalized.
Asked whether he wanted  Tillerson  to remain in his job  Trump sidestepped the question  telling reporters at the White House: “He’s here. Rex is here.”
State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said Kelly told Tillerson’s chief of staff on Thursday the reports on  Tillerson  being replaced were not true. Nauert added that Tillerson “serves at the pleasure of the president.”
Asked about  Tillerson   White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said the secretary of state remained in his post. “When the president loses confidence in someone  they will no longer serve here ” she said.
A combination photo of Central Intelligence Agency Director Mike Pompeo (L) on May 11  2017 and U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson in Washington  U.S.  November 28  2017. REUTERS/Eric Thayer/Yuri Gripas/File Photos
 Tillerson  has at times put distance between  himself  and Trump’s positions.
At a private dinner of foreign policy veterans last month  a senior White House official criticized  Tillerson  for failing to support the president’s agenda  according to a person familiar with the matter.
 Tillerson  joined Defense Secretary Jim Mattis in pressing Trump not to pull the United States out of an agreement with Iran and world powers over Tehran’s nuclear capabilities.
 Tillerson  has taken a more hawkish view than Trump on Russia and tried to mediate a dispute after four Arab nations launched a boycott of Qatar.
In September in  Beijing  Tillerson  said Washington was probing North Korea to see whether it was interested in dialogue  and had multiple direct channels of communication with Pyongyang.
Tensions have also run high between  Tillerson  and veteran diplomats who oppose  his  proposed staff and budget cuts.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump is considering a plan to oust Secretary of State [TGT]whose relationship has been strained by the top U.S. diplomat’s softer line on North Korea and other differences  senior administration officials said on Thursday.
 [TGT]was reported in October to have privately called Trump a “moron ” something the secretary of state sought to dismiss.
That followed a tweet by Trump that  Tillerson  should not waste [TGT] time by seeking negotiations with North Korea over its nuclear and missile program  widely seen as a sign of the secretary of state being marginalized.
Asked whether [TGT] wanted  [TGT]to remain in [TGT] job  Trump sidestepped the question  telling reporters at the White House: “He’s here. Rex is here.”
State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said Kelly told Tillerson’s chief of staff on Thursday the reports on  [TGT]being replaced were not true. Nauert added that Tillerson “serves at the pleasure of the president.”
Asked about  Tillerson   White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said the secretary of state remained in his post. “When the president loses confidence in someone  they will no longer serve here ” she said.
A combination photo of Central Intelligence Agency Director Mike Pompeo (L) on May 11  2017 and U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson in Washington  U.S.  November 28  2017. REUTERS/Eric Thayer/Yuri Gripas/File Photos
 [TGT]has at times put distance between  [TGT]  and Trump’s positions.
At a private dinner of foreign policy veterans last month  a senior White House official criticized  [TGT]for failing to support the president’s agenda  according to a person familiar with the matter.
 [TGT]joined Defense Secretary Jim Mattis in pressing Trump not to pull the United States out of an agreement with Iran and world powers over Tehran’s nuclear capabilities.
 [TGT]has taken a more hawkish view than Trump on Russia and tried to mediate a dispute after four Arab nations launched a boycott of Qatar.
In September in  Beijing  [TGT]said Washington was probing North Korea to see whether it was interested in dialogue  and had multiple direct channels of communication with Pyongyang.
Tensions have also run high between  [TGT]and veteran diplomats who oppose  his  proposed staff and budget cuts.