Chief U.S. diplomat Tillerson says never considered resigning

[webfact]

Chief U.S. diplomat Tillerson says never considered resigning

By Doina Chiacu and Yara Bayoumy

 

U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson makes a statement to the media that he is not going to resign, at the State Department in Washington, U.S., October 4, 2017. REUTERS/Yuri Gripas

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said on Wednesday he had never considered resigning and was committed to President Donald Trump's agenda, but failed to address whether he had referred to the president as a "moron," as NBC reported.

 

The State Department later denied he had even used the word, an issue Tillerson earlier declined to specifically address.

 

"The Secretary .... does not use that language to speak about anyone. He did not say that," State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said at a briefing.

 

The top U.S. diplomat, whose tenure has been dogged with rumours about unhappiness with Trump's policies and rhetoric, said he was as committed to Trump's agenda today as he was when he accepted the offer to serve as secretary of state.

 

The episode is the latest controversy to embroil Trump's administration which has witnessed a string of high-profile departures and firings in recent months, including his chief of staff, national security advisor and the former FBI director.

 

NBC reported that in a session with Trump’s national security team and Cabinet officials at the Pentagon, Tillerson had openly criticized the president and referred to him as a "moron," citing three officials familiar with the incident.

 

Tillerson sidestepped the issue when taking questions after making a statement at a hastily organised news conference.

 

"I'm not going to deal with petty stuff like that," he said, adding, "I'm not from this place (Washington), but the places I come from we don't deal with that kind of petty nonsense."

 

Tillerson spoke after NBC reported that Vice President Mike Pence and other top officials had intervened to persuade him not to resign this summer as tensions rose between him and Trump.

 

"The vice president has never had to persuade me to remain as secretary of state because I have never considered leaving this post," Tillerson said.

 

"My commitment to the success of our president and our country is as strong as it was the day I accepted his offer to serve as secretary of state," Tillerson said.

 

Nauert said Tillerson and Trump had spoken later on Wednesday and that it was a "good conversation". Tillerson did not offer an apology to Trump because "one was not needed".

 

Tillerson, the former CEO of Exxon and former president of the Boy Scouts, said of Trump: "He's smart. He demands results."

 

Trump later told reporters in Las Vegas: "I'm very honoured by his comments. It was fake news, it was a totally phony story. ... It was made up by NBC. They just made it up. ... Total confidence in Rex. I have total confidence."

 

Trump had appeared to undercut Tillerson over the weekend when the president tweeted that he told him that he was "wasting his time" trying to negotiate with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un over Pyongyang's nuclear and missile programs.

 

Tillerson offered a vigorous defence of both the U.S. president and his foreign policy even though the White House and State Department have at times appeared to differ on policy.

 

"President Trump's foreign policy goals break the mold of what people traditionally think is achievable on behalf of our country," Tillerson said.

 

FOREIGN POLICY CONFUSION

 

The embarrassing episode underscored the sense of disarray that U.S. friends and foes alike have detected in their dealings with Trump's foreign policy apparatus and could further undermine U.S. credibility in world affairs.

 

Pence, in a statement, said he never discussed with Tillerson the prospect of the secretary of state's resignation.

 

In a tweet, Trump earlier urged NBC to apologise for its story, but NBC News anchor Hallie Jackson said on air: "NBC will not be issuing an apology to America as the president is calling for because again ... the secretary did not refute directly some of the key points" in the story.

 

Several NBC journalists who reported the story also stood by their piece, saying on MSNBC that their reporting was true.

 

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis has played down any tensions between Trump and Tillerson over their apparent split, most recently over North Korea.

 

Some administration officials have privately described Tillerson as chafing against some of the president's pronouncements and off-the-cuff decisions, sometimes contrary to advice from senior advisers.

 

One U.S. official said the view of many within the administration was that despite Tillerson’s denial of having contemplated resignation, “it’s only a matter of time” before he does consider it.

 

The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said there was no reason to believe that Trump would give up his habit of publicly contradicting Tillerson and that each time speculation on his future would resurface.

 

Tillerson has often found himself at odds with the president on a range of issues, according to current and former U.S. officials and media reports.

 

He has taken a more hawkish view on Russia and tried to mediate a dispute among key U.S. Mideast allies after four Arab nations boycotted Qatar over its alleged extremist ties.

 

Tillerson also appeared to distance himself from Trump's response to violence in Charlottesville, Virginia this summer, saying at the time "the president speaks for himself" when asked about Trump's values.

 

Senator Bob Corker, a Tennessee Republican, said Tillerson was working under difficult circumstances because some in the administration are undermining his authority by trying to act as secretary of state on a daily basis. He declined to name names.

 

Corker, who is chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations committee, was asked whether he supported Tillerson, and said:

 

"As a team, Tillerson, Mattis and (White House Chief of Staff John) Kelly help separate us from chaos, so I absolutely support ‘em. Absolutely."

 

Tillerson was confirmed by only 56-43 at his Senate confirmation hearing in January, an unusually low confirmation for a secretary of state.

 

Many members of Congress, including Republicans, strongly object to his plans to slash the State Department and foreign aid budgets.

 

(Additional reporting by Susan Heavey, Matt Spetalnick, Mohammad Zargham, Patricia Zengerle, Tim Ahmann, Steve Holland, Jeff Mason, Jonathan Landay, David Alexander and Susan Cornwell in Washington; Writing by Yara Bayoumy; Editing by Jeffrey Benkoe and James Dalgleish)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2017-10-05

[NumbNut]

But doesn't deny 'Moron' remark... just too funny!

[Somtamnication]

Surely moron was not the only adjective he mentioned? This guy will not last in the office. Both of them, actually. What a circus.

[Boon Mee]

Trump was right to call NBC worse Fake News than CNN

[ilostmypassword]

3 minutes ago, Boon Mee said:

Trump was right to call NBC worse Fake News than CNN

Yes, it's completely insignificant that Tillerson didn't deny he called Trump a moron.

[Jingthing]

It would be bigger news if he DIDN'T call the clown potus a moron. 

[Quidio]

Nope, I have a feeling he did call him a moron.   It just wasn't caught on tape.  

 

I don't know that I trust Tillerson, but he is one of the few in the administration who seems to stay focused. 

[Berkshire]

Rex Tillerson was just saying what pretty much everyone was thinking--even within the Trump Administration.  That D. Trump is in fact a moron.  I would agree with Mr. Tillerson on his assessment.

[ilostmypassword]

8 minutes ago, Berkshire said:

Rex Tillerson was just saying what pretty much everyone was thinking--even within the Trump Administration.  That D. Trump is in fact a moron.  I would agree with Mr. Tillerson on his assessment.

I actually don't think he's a moron. He is an ignoramus, and given his very limited capacity for focusing on anything but TV, probably incurably so.

[boomerangutang]

'Moron' is the nicest word a person can use to describe the prez.

 

Tillerson is like the naughty boy who is forced to say, "Yes, mommy was right for spanking me for taking a cookie before dinner.  Mommy is smart.  I was wrong. (please don't spank me any more). "

[Berkshire]

4 minutes ago, ilostmypassword said:

I actually don't think he's a moron. He is an ignoramus, and given his very limited capacity for focusing on anything but TV, probably incurably so.

I think we're kind of splitting hairs here, but either word would be appropriate....

 

ig·no·ra·mus

ˌiɡnəˈrāməs,ˌiɡnəˈraməs/

noun

noun: ignoramus; plural noun: ignoramuses

1. an ignorant or stupid person.

 

mo·ron

ˈmôrˌän/

noun

informal

noun: moron; plural noun: morons

1. a stupid person.

 

 

[Jack Mountain]

To resign he first has to ask permission from his wife, who 'talked' him into this job ..

[pegman]

2 hours ago, Quidio said:

Nope, I have a feeling he did call him a moron.   It just wasn't caught on tape.  

 

I don't know that I trust Tillerson, but he is one of the few in the administration who seems to stay focused. 

Seems like a decent enough man to me. Same goes for Kelly. Maybe Mattis too except he wants to re fight the 1980's with regards to Iran. The rest scare me.

[IAMHERE]

I don't know that I trust Tillerson, but there was someone at that meeting that certainly shouldn't be trusted. At least not trusted to keep their mouths shut.

 

POTUS may not be the sharpest knife in the drawer but he isn't all that dull.

[boomerangutang]

Trump brings out the worst in people.  Also: if you've been appointed to a high position by Trump, beware if he later showers you in praises - that's an indication he's going to the shed to get the axe.  ....and if he zips down his zipper, get ready for another type of shower.

[boomerangutang]

16 minutes ago, IAMHERE said:

I don't know that I trust Tillerson, but there was someone at that meeting that certainly shouldn't be trusted. At least not trusted to keep their mouths shut.

POTUS may not be the sharpest knife in the drawer but he isn't all that dull.

If Trump is as sharp as a butter knife, and all his minions are duller, that doesn't bode well for the folks under the 'trickle down' (a favorite Republican phrase put forth whenever they want to lower taxes for the rich).

[boomerangutang]

in response to the title of this thread  "....Tillerson ...never considered resigning"

 

That's like saying "Tillerson never considered hugging the beautiful 19 year old babysitter."

 

Some people have private thoughts, but they just don't voice them publicly.  If he says he never considered resigning, then he's lying as much as when he says he never called Trump a moron (at least 3 people who were there, have gone on record as saying they heard Tillerson use that word in reference to Trump).  To be a Republican and/or a Trump cabinet member, is to be a liar.  It's a job requirement.

[Jingthing]

Well, I hope Tillerson manages to hang on. He obviously is tethered to reality thinking trump is a moron, which he obviously is, but more relevant to a secretary of state, a DANGEROUS moron. Tillerson may be in a position to help prevent nuclear war. If he resigns or gets booted, the next guy will likely be closer in synch with trump's mental sickness. 

Edited October 5, 2017 by Jingthing

[Opl]

"Suicide squad: Tillerson 'formed pact with Mattis and  Mnuchin in which all three would quit if Trump began targeting any one of them"

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4949298/Under-fire-Tillerson-forced-deny-rift-Trump.html#ixzz4udmED4cb
 

http://www.politicususa.com/2017/10/05/tillerson-suicide-pact-reported-trump-declares-news-invalid-reporters-verification.html

Edited October 5, 2017 by Opl

[boomerangutang]

1 hour ago, Jingthing said:

Well, I hope Tillerson manages to hang on. He obviously is tethered to reality thinking trump is a moron, which he obviously is, but more relevant to a secretary of state, a DANGEROUS moron. Tillerson may be in a position to help prevent nuclear war. If he resigns or gets booted, the next guy will likely be closer in synch with trump's mental sickness. 

You're probably right.  Better the dufus we know (Tillerson), than someone even more clueless and/or dangerous than Tillerson.  One thing Trump can be relied upon doing:  Appointing inept people for important positions.   Not only cabinet members, but also court justices.

[Jingthing]

trump is going on another Twitter sheitstorm now about this. Suggesting an senate investigation of NBC for fake news. The baby man is way beyond certifiable.

[pegman]

7 hours ago, boomerangutang said:

in response to the title of this thread  "....Tillerson ...never considered resigning"

 

That's like saying "Tillerson never considered hugging the beautiful 19 year old babysitter."

 

Some people have private thoughts, but they just don't voice them publicly.  If he says he never considered resigning, then he's lying as much as when he says he never called Trump a moron (at least 3 people who were there, have gone on record as saying they heard Tillerson use that word in reference to Trump).  To be a Republican and/or a Trump cabinet member, is to be a liar.  It's a job requirement.

Do you have a link that states he denied calling Trump a moron? What I have read he avoided answering that question. Seems pretty much an admission he did in fact say it. His not lying about it makes what he says more creditable to me. 

[Scott]

I was watching something about this on the news.   As near as I can tell he did not and has not denied it.   A spokesperson at a press briefing said he did not say it.  

[Publicus]

 

Good on Tillerson because the one name being advanced everywhere is Nikki Haley the UN Ambassador.

 

Trump is Haley's ventriloquist. She is John nuke 'em all now Bolton without the mustache. (Bolton is not quite nutso, but only not quite.)

 

If it is true Munchin, Mattis and Tillerson have agreed to hang together rather than hang separately, then the three together would be blocking Haley from getting the SecState position. Mattis would of course be the most secure of the three in his position as SecDef.

 

Blocking is good if that might be what's occurring. Blocking would likely be what Tillerson is doing given all the involvement he has in holding off or minimizing Trump's chaos in foreign policy and national security. Still, one wonders if Tillerson conducting a counter foreign policy can make it to the end of the year before getting tossed.

 

If Haley does succeed Tillerson then 2018 will be the World Year of Living the Most Dangerously Ever. (With or without a UN vote!) Haley is tougher ideologically than Trump is in his chaos on NK, China, Russia, Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan and so on.

[Berkshire]

On 10/5/2017 at 9:45 PM, Jingthing said:

trump is going on another Twitter sheitstorm now about this. Suggesting an senate investigation of NBC for fake news. The baby man is way beyond certifiable.

Funny he would never suggest an investigation into real fake news out of Fox, Breitbart, Infowars, etc.  He'd just retweet them. 

[Silurian]

1 hour ago, Berkshire said:

Funny he would never suggest an investigation into real fake news out of Fox, Breitbart, Infowars, etc.  He'd just retweet them. 

 

Any news that validates Donny John's position or beliefs isn't fake news by definition.

 

[Berkshire]

Aren't we all so proud that D. Trump is our President....

 

"I think it's fake news, but if he did that, I guess we'll have to compare IQ tests," Trump said. "And I can tell you who is going to win."

 

http://edition.cnn.com/2017/10/10/politics/donald-trump-forbes-interview-rex-tillerson/index.html

 

[Opl]

"Trump threatened to cancel NBC's broadcasting licence because he is still fuming over the network's reports about chaos in his WH and Sec. of State Rex Tillerson calling  him a moron.."

http://www.politicususa.com/2017/10/11/trump-proves-moron-empty-threat-cancel-nbcs-broadcasting-license.html

"The president’s willingness to potentially challenge the broadcast licenses of a media outlet whose coverage he objects to marked an escalation in rhetoric for Trump"

http://www.politico.com/story/2017/10/11/trump-nbc-broadcast-license-243667

Edited October 11, 2017 by Opl

[ilostmypassword]

2 minutes ago, Opl said:

"Trump threatened to cancel NBC's broadcasting licence because he is still fuming over the network's reports about chaos in his WH and Sec. of State Rex Tillerson calling  him a moron.."

 

http://www.politicususa.com/2017/10/11/trump-proves-moron-empty-threat-cancel-nbcs-broadcasting-license.html

According to NBC, Tillerson's comment was prompted by Trump calling for a nearly 1000 percent increase in the size of the USA's nuclear arsenal.