State Department contradicts the White House: Tillerson has no idea why Trump decided to fire him

[DonViejo]

BRAD REED
13 MAR 2018 AT 09:20 ET

The State Department on Tuesday issued a statement saying that just-fired Secretary of State Rex Tillerson had been planning to remain in his post — while adding that Tillerson still has no idea why he was fired.

In a statement sent to ABC News, the State Department said that Tillerson “had every intention of staying” at his job before he was fired, and he says that he “did not speak to the president and is unaware of the reason” for his firing.”

Link to tweet

This contradicts a report from White House sources on Tuesday morning that Trump informed Tillerson last Friday that he planned to fire him and replace him with current CIA Director Mike Pompeo.

Trump shocked the country on Tuesday morning when he abruptly announced that Tillerson was being fired over Twitter. The president had reportedly clashed regularly with his secretary of state during his tenure, and Tillerson reportedly enraged Trump when he referred to him as a “moron” during a national security meeting.

###

https://www.rawstory.com/2018/03/state-department-contradicts-white-house-tillerson-no-idea-trump-decided-fire/

[left-of-center2012]

1. Remember he called Trump a moron

His days were numbered after that.

[dameatball]

2. First thing I thought of as well. Surprised it took so long.

[Yonnie3]

3. "Trump informed Tillerson last Friday that he planned to fire him ..."

I suspect that 'Rump offered to fire him often. Who would have thought that this was the real one?

[smirkymonkey]

4. Trump is such a coward he can't even fire people in person.

What kind of "president" lets members of his staff know they are canned via twitter? God, he's such a raging asshole!

[Yonnie3]

5. I just remembered that Tillerson cut short his trip yesterday.

This was yesterday. Get him back to the US and fire him?

Tillerson ending Africa trip a day early

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson will conclude his first diplomatic trip to Africa a day early and fly back to Washington on Monday amid new developments in the administration’s approach to North Korea.

Tillerson met with leaders in Chad during the first half of the day on Monday. He was then scheduled to travel to Nigeria, where he would meet with the country’s president, foreign minister and representatives from the U.S. Embassy there.

However, he will cut his time in Nigeria short, according to a Reuters report. Tillerson will spend just a few hours there and then fly back to the U.S. on Monday night.

...

http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/377910-tillerson-leaving-africa-early