Tillerson says he will be staying on the job
WASHINGTON — Secretary of State Rex Tillerson insisted Wednesday that he is not planning to quit, rebutting persistent reports of policy disputes and personal clashes with the White House.
“I have never considered leaving this post,” Tillerson said at a hastily called news conference at the State Department.
Tillerson did not directly respond to an NBC News report earlier Wednesday that he had referred to President Trump as a “moron.”
“I’m not going to deal with petty stuff like that,” Tillerson said, adding that he does not understand what he called a Washington impulse to “sow dissension” and undermine the administration’s work.
He called Trump “smart” and committed to American security and the accountability of those around him.
Trump responded quickly on Twitter after Tillerson’s appearance: “The @NBCNews story has just been totally refuted by Sec. Tillerson and @VP Pence. It is #FakeNews. They should issue an apology to AMERICA!”
In Las Vegas, after visiting a hospital, Trump told reporters he has “total confidence in Rex. I have total confidence.”
State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said Tillerson and Trump spoke on the phone immediately after Tillerson spoke to reporters. She characterized the conversation as “good,” and said, “They are all good.” She said Tillerson intends to stay on the job.
“The secretary never considered resigning from his post,” she said, “and for those who want him to do so, go ahead and keep pushing, because that will only strengthen his resolve.”
Tillerson’s public remarks came after months of disagreements between Tillerson and the White House over staffing and administrative matters at the State Department and a disconnect over what Trump saw as Tillerson’s conventional approach to policy matters.
Over the weekend, Trump contradicted Tillerson on diplomatic relations with North Korea and its leader. Trump tweeted that the secretary of state was “wasting his time trying to negotiate with Little Rocket Man” — his nickname for North Korea’s Kim Jong Un.