Tillerson not planning to step down

washington — Top US diplomat Rex Tillerson does not plan to step down, the State Department said on Tuesday, quashing reports citing differences with the White House.

Since taking the helm of the State Department in February, the former ExxonMobil chair has come under fire for his ultra-low profile, and his plan to slash by 30 per cent the budget of an agency that employs more than 70,000 people in Washington and around the world.

CNN reported that Tillerson planned to leave by year’s end, which spokeswoman Heather Nauert flatly denied.

“That is false. We have spoken with the secretary. The secretary has been very clear he intends to stay here at the State Department,” she told reporters.

“We have a lot of work that is left to be done ahead of us. He recognises that. He’s deeply engaged in that work.” —