Plans to replace Tillerson with Mike Pompeo: Officials
WASHINGTON: The White House is discussing a plan to oust US secretary of state Rex Tillerson and replace him with CIA director Mike Pompeo in a major shake-up of President Donald Trump’s national security team, officials said on Thursday.
The move would put Pompeo, a former congressman who has grown close to Trump during his tenure atop the CIA, in charge of US diplomacy.
Tillerson, the former Exxon MobilCEO,has hadaroughfirst year characterized by tensions with Trump in several foreign policy areas and overwhelming ly negative publicity over Tillerson’s planned overhaul of the State Department.
Putting Pompeo at the state department would create a vacancy at the CIA, which US officials and other individuals familiar with White House thinking said could be filled by Republican senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas, one of Trump’s staunchest defenders on foreign policy. Cotton’s office wouldn’t comment other than to say: “Senator Cotton’s focus is on serving Arkansans in the Senate.”
Tillerson’s likely ouster loomed awkward ly over an Oval Office meeting on Thursday between Trump and the visiting crown prince of Bahrain. Asked by a reporter whether he wanted Tillerson to stay on the job, Trump was coy, merely pointing out that Tillerson was in fact in the room for the meeting.
“He’s here. Rex is here,” the president said.
A White House official said it was unclear how soon Tillerson might be replaced. The New York Times, which first reported the potential shake-up, said it was likely to happen within several weeks.
However, the White House said Tillers on remains secretary of state and that there are no changes at this time.
“Secretary Tillerson continues to lead the State Department and the entire cabinet is focused on completing this incredibly successful first year of President Trump’ s administration ,” White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said.