Breaking news out of Trump Tower where Donald Trump has picked ExxonMobil CEO Rex Tillerson as Secretary of State:
It's officially official, Trump team announces he wants Exxon exec Tillerson as his secretary of state pic.twitter.com/I40cC0ZmIY
— Marc Caputo (@MarcACaputo) December 13, 2016
Tillerson has been criticized for having too close of ties to Russia’s Vladimir Putin, but according to reports he was recommended to Trump by none other than Condi Rice and Bob Gates, which should put minds at ease:
Rex Tillerson was recommended by Bob Gates and Condi Rice, and is a longtime friend of James Baker. Hardly the pedigree of a Putin stooge.
— Joe Scarborough (@JoeNBC) December 12, 2016
Philip Rucker of the Washington Post has more:
Some Tillerson-Trump tic toc… Bob Gates first recommended Tillerson at Trump Tower meeting. Trump intrigued and chewed over it /1
— Philip Rucker (@PhilipRucker) December 13, 2016
Trump didn't know Tillerson but invited him in for a meeting. They hit it off. Two global dealmakers. Saw similarities in each other /2
— Philip Rucker (@PhilipRucker) December 13, 2016
Condi Rice became a strong advocate for Tillerson in repeated talks with Trump. Latest today by phone as Trump made final decision /3
— Philip Rucker (@PhilipRucker) December 13, 2016
Other Tillerson boosters, in addition to Gates & Rice: Stephen Hadley, Jim Baker & Dick Cheney. Full court press planned for confirmation /4
— Philip Rucker (@PhilipRucker) December 13, 2016
(There is no No. 5):
Trump team planning big PR push to intro Tillerson & push back on Putin narrative. Statements from GOP statesmen rolling out tomorrow /6
— Philip Rucker (@PhilipRucker) December 13, 2016
There’s also media speculation that Trump has decided on Rick Perry for Secretary of Energy, but that’s not confirmed yet:
From @FoxNewsSunday "An informed source close 2 transition says Pres-elect @realDonaldTrump has decided on @GovernorPerry for Sec of Energy"
— Bret Baier (@BretBaier) December 13, 2016
And if it’s Perry at Energy, we’ll be hearing this ad nauseam:
Reading Rick Perry, who infamously forgot the existence of the Dept. of Energy, is Trump's pick to lead it. You can't make this crap up.
— Ana Navarro-Cárdenas (@ananavarro) December 13, 2016
***
Join the conversation as a VIP Member