Tillerson rebuts reports of his intention to resign
Secretary of State Rex Tillerson called reporters to the State Department Wednesday for the first time to rebut claims that he was on the verge of resigning in the summer and was persuaded to stay on by Vice President Mike Pence. Asked to comment on the NBC report that he called President Trump a “moron,” he refused to comment on “petty nonsense” and said he would not be part of the efforts to “divide this administration.” Tillerson lauded the Trump administration’s foreign policy accomplishments, which, he said could only be achieved by teamwork, citing his cooperation with Defense Secretary Jim Mattis. Secretary Tillerson finally reaffirmed his commitment to serve the president in the role he was given, so long as he was useful.