WASHINGTON – Here's the Latest on the firing of Secretary of State Rex Tillerson (all times local):
10 a.m.
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President Donald Trump says he and ousted Secretary of State Rex Tillerson "disagreed on things."
Trump cites their divergent opinions on the Iran nuclear deal. Iran agreed before Trump took office to curb its nuclear program in exchange for the easing of economic sanctions. The president regularly criticizes the agreement as a bad deal and has repeatedly threatened to end it.
Trump spoke Tuesday of his desire to break the deal, but notes that Tillerson "felt a little bit differently, so we were not really thinking the same."
Trump announced Tuesday that he has fired Tillerson and is replacing him with Mike Pompeo, currently the CIA director.
Trump says he and Pompeo have a "very, very similar thought process."
9:55 a.m.
U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley is hailing Mike Pompeo as a "great decision" for next secretary of state.
Haley, who had her own contentious relationship with ousted Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, congratulated Pompeo in a tweet and called him her "friend."
She wrote: "Great decision by the President."
Over months of speculation about Tillerson's future, Haley had been rumored as one possible successor.
9:25 a.m.
President Donald Trump is telling reporters that he made the decision to oust Secretary of State Rex Tillerson "by myself."
The president is adding that Tillerson will be "much happier now," and he appreciates his service. Trump says he and Tillerson had been "talking about this for a long time," and they had disagreed on issues like the Iran deal.
Trump is praising the energy and intellect of his incoming Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, who has led the CIA.
The president spoke to reporters at the White House shortly before departing for Joint Base Andrews for his trip to California.
9:20 a.m.
A top State Department official says President Donald Trump never explained to ousted Secretary of State Rex Tillerson the reason why he was fired.
The undersecretary of state for public diplomacy, Steve Goldstein, says Tillerson "had every intention of staying" in the job because he felt he was making critical progress in national security.
Two White House officials said Tillerson was told he was out on Friday. The sources weren't authorized to speak publicly and demanded anonymity.
But Goldstein says Tillerson "did not speak to the president and is unaware of the reason."
Goldstein says Tillerson will miss his colleagues at the State Department and the foreign ministers he worked with.
Trump named Mike Pompeo, who had been CIA director, as his new secretary.
Goldstein said, "We wish Secretary Pompeo well."
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(Original Story)
President Donald Trump has ousted Rex Tillerson as secretary of state, tweeting in a surprise Tuesday morning announcement that Tillerson will be replaced by CIA director Mike Pompeo.
A White House official said Trump wanted to have a new team in place ahead of upcoming talks with North Korea and various trade talks. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the official was not authorized to speak publicly.
There had been longstanding rumors throughout most of Tillerson’s tenure of friction between Trump and his secretary of state, a former Exxon Mobile Corp. CEO.
Pompeo is to be replaced at CIA by Gina Haspel, Pompeo’s deputy at CIA, Trump tweeted. She would be the first woman in that role.
Tillerson had just returned from a shortened trip to Africa hours before Trump’s announcement. Trump offered no explanation for the change.
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