Tillerson sacked in Trump’s clean-out
DONALD Trump fired his Secretary of State over Twitter and then sacked a State Department spokesman who spoke out against the move yesterday.
In a tumultuous day, quickly dubbed “Rexit”, it was also revealed the President’s long-time personal assistant was escorted from the White House on Monday after his security clearance was revoked.
John McEntee had worked as Mr Trump’s “body-man” since the 2016 election campaign, accompanying him almost everywhere and tasked with supplying everything from markers for autographs to bottles of water.
Multiple reports said yesterday he was being investigated for financial crimes.
He has now joined Mr Trump’s campaign staff, despite the security concerns that saw him pushed out of the White House.
After 13 months as America’s top diplomat, Rex Tillerson learnt via social media that he was the third-ever secretary of state to be fired.
His ousting came after months of strained relations with Mr Trump, whom Mr Tillerson had reportedly called a “moron” last year – something which he never denied, despite being offered numerous opportunities to do so.
CIA chief Mike Pompeo – a hawkish figure who Mr Trump says shares “a similar thought process” with him – is the new secretary of state, the fourth most powerful position in the US Government.
The White House also sacked under secretary of state for public diplomacy and public affairs Steve Goldstein yesterday after he contradicted the official account of how Mr Tillerson was notified of his sacking.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said yesterday Canberra’s access to the White House would not suffer.
“The transition will be absolutely seamless,” he said.
“We look forward to working with Mike Pompeo, or continue working with Mike Pompeo. We know him very well. He’s a great friend of Australia.”
The White House characterised the changes as getting its house in order ahead of Mr Trump’s upcoming talks with North Korea and trade talks.
It came just a week after Mr Trump’s chief economic adviser, Gary Cohn, quit in protest at sweeping new steel and aluminium tariffs introduced by the President.
Mr Trump said yesterday he believed Mr Tillerson would be “much happier” out of the role and said he was pleased to be building a strong team.
“I’m really at a point where we’re getting very close to having the Cabinet and other things that I want,” Mr Trump said.