Trump denies Tillerson out as secretary of state
Rex Tillerson
Secretary of State Rex Tillerson speaks during a media opportunity with Libyan Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj at the State Department in Washington  Friday  Dec. 1  2017. (Carolyn Kaster/Associated Press)
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump on Friday denied he wants to oust Secretary of State Rex Tillerson  calling reports to that effect “fake news ” as his top diplomat brushed off speculation that he has lost the confidence of the White House.
As  Tillerson  went about  his  normal schedule of diplomatic activities  including two meetings with Trump  the president said his secretary of state is “not leaving.”
“The media has been speculating that I fired  Rex Tillerson  or that  he  would be leaving soon - FAKE NEWS!” Trump tweeted. “He’s not leaving and while we disagree on certain subjects  (I call the final shots) we work well together and America is highly respected again!”
The tweet was Trump’s strongest endorsement of his top diplomat since senior White House officials on Thursday began telling reporters that a plan had been devised to push  Tillerson  out and replace him with CIA chief Mike Pompeo. Immediately after reports of the plan emerged  Trump offered only tepid support for  Tillerson   noting only that he was at the White House for a previously scheduled meeting.
The halfhearted backing amid the swirl of speculation over  Tillerson ’s imminent demise had threatened to impair  his  effectiveness  particularly as  he  prepares for an official trip to Europe next week.
On Friday   Tillerson  attended two meetings at the White House with Trump — one with Libya’s visiting prime minister and then a lunch with the president and Defense Secretary James Mattis. Before those meetings   Tillerson  told reporters at the State Department that speculation  he  was on  his  way out was “laughable.”
Tillerson aides had said the secretary was sanguine and remained comfortable in his role despite the turmoil in Trump’s national security team centering on him. Aides said  Tillerson  would continue to serve until the president asked  him  not to and stressed that such a request had not been made.
Although  Tillerson  looks safe for now   he  will be losing a senior aide and conduit to the public in coming weeks.
R.C. Hammond  who has run State Department strategic communications since  Tillerson  took office  will leave his post in mid-December  officials said.
After a report in October that Tillerson had called the president a “moron ”  Tillerson  appeared before cameras to pledge fealty to his boss. Soon after  Trump publicly challenged his secretary to an IQ match.
When  Tillerson  was tapped for the job late last year  many Trump critics expressed quiet relief that  he ’d picked a sober “adult” who could form a counterweight to the president’s brasher  more impulsive approach  especially on critical matters of war and peace.
Yet divisions on key foreign policy issues emerged quickly  and Trump has repeatedly undermined  Tillerson  by voicing positions at odds with his.
When  Tillerson  in June called on Arab nations to ease their blockade on Qatar  Trump hours later lambasted Qatar for funding terrorism. Trump also deemed diplomacy with North Korea a waste of time  when  Tillerson  was pursuing just that.  Tillerson ’s advice to Trump to stay in the Paris climate deal and certify Iran’s compliance with the nuclear deal was similarly overruled.
[TGT] speaks during a media opportunity with Libyan Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj at the State Department in Washington  Friday  Dec. 1  2017. (Carolyn Kaster/Associated Press)
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump on Friday denied he wants to oust Secretary of State [TGT]calling reports to that effect “fake news ” as his top diplomat brushed off speculation that he has lost the confidence of the White House.
As  [TGT]went about  his  normal schedule of diplomatic activities  including two meetings with Trump  the president said his secretary of state is “not leaving.”
“The media has been speculating that I fired  [TGT]or that  [TGT]  would be leaving soon - FAKE NEWS!” Trump tweeted. “He’s not leaving and while we disagree on certain subjects  (I call the final shots) we work well together and America is highly respected again!”
The tweet was Trump’s strongest endorsement of [TGT] top diplomat since senior White House officials on Thursday began telling reporters that a plan had been devised to push  [TGT]out and replace [TGT] with CIA chief Mike Pompeo. Immediately after reports of the plan emerged  Trump offered only tepid support for [TGT]noting only that he was at the White House for a previously scheduled meeting.
The halfhearted backing amid the swirl of speculation over  Tillerson ’s imminent demise had threatened to impair  his  effectiveness  particularly as  he  prepares for an official trip to Europe next week.
On Friday   [TGT]attended two meetings at the White House with Trump — one with Libya’s visiting prime minister and then a lunch with the president and Defense Secretary James Mattis. Before those meetings   [TGT]told reporters at the State Department that speculation  he  was on  his  way out was “laughable.”
Tillerson aides had said the secretary was sanguine and remained comfortable in his role despite the turmoil in Trump’s national security team centering on him. Aides said  [TGT]would continue to serve until the president asked  him  not to and stressed that such a request had not been made.
Although  [TGT]looks safe for now   [TGT]  will be losing a senior aide and conduit to the public in coming weeks.
R.C. Hammond  who has run State Department strategic communications since  [TGT]took office  will leave [TGT] post in mid-December  officials said.
After a report in October that [TGT] had called the president a “moron ”  [TGT]appeared before cameras to pledge fealty to [TGT] boss. Soon after  Trump publicly challenged [TGT] secretary to an IQ match.
When  [TGT]was tapped for the job late last year  many Trump critics expressed quiet relief that  he ’d picked a sober “adult” who could form a counterweight to the president’s brasher  more impulsive approach  especially on critical matters of war and peace.
Yet divisions on key foreign policy issues emerged quickly  and Trump has repeatedly undermined  [TGT]by voicing positions at odds with his.
When  [TGT]in June called on Arab nations to ease their blockade on Qatar  Trump hours later lambasted Qatar for funding terrorism. Trump also deemed diplomacy with North Korea a waste of time  when  [TGT]was pursuing just that.  Tillerson ’s advice to Trump to stay in the Paris climate deal and certify Iran’s compliance with the nuclear deal was similarly overruled.