Rex Tillerson has been ripped off his role as U.S secretary of state, ending a tumultuous tenure as America’s top diplomat that was marked by a series of public disagreements with President Donald Trump.
Trump has revealed plans to appoint CIA Director Mike Pompeo to replace the former Exxon Mobil chief executive . The president picked deputy CIA Director Gina Haspel to run the spy agency .
Just on Monday , March 12, Tillerson visited Nigeria on the last leg of his official visits to Africa, being the first high – ranking official under the Trump administration to do so .
He met President Muhammadu Buhari during the visit, where they discussed issues of mutual interest to both countries.
The ex – Secretary of State had also warned Nigeria and the rest of Africa against accessing financial help from China.
Trump announced Tillerson ’ s sacking via his verified Twitter handle :
Mike Pompeo, Director of the CIA, will become our new Secretary of State. He will do a fantastic job! Thank you to Rex Tillerson for his service! Gina Haspel will become the new Director of the CIA, and the first woman so chosen. Congratulations to all!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 13, 2018
As reported by the CNBC, since Tillerson took the post in February 2017, mixed messages repeatedly came out of the White House and a State Department with diminishing relevance. The intramural clashes between the president and secretary of State came amid major international crises, including a potential nuclear showdown with North Korea .
The Daily Mail mentioned the rift between Trump and Tillerson , quoting the ousted Secretary of State as saying, “The decision to meet North Korean dictator Kim Jong – Un for talks was all down to President Trump himself. ” Tillerson reportedly said this on Friday.
He reportedly said Trump had been open to talks ‘ for some time ’ , despite saying just hours before the announcement that the US was ‘ a long way from negotiations ’ with North Korea.
The White House confirmed on Thursday evening that the President had accepted an invitation from Kim Jong- Un to meet , but did not specify a time and place .
Speaking to reporters during a visit to the African nation of Djibouti , Tillerson said the talks between the two world leaders will take ‘ some weeks’ to arrange
‘ That is a decision the president took himself . I spoke to him very early this morning about that decision and we had a very good conversation,’ Tillerson said .
