The Secretary of State learned he was terminated from Twitter. Rex Tillerson said he did not speak to the President and was unaware why he was fired. Donald Trump, speaking to reporters as he departed for California, said he made the decision “by myself.”
Meanwhile, the State Department released a statement saying in part: “The Secretary had every intention of staying because of the critical progress made in national security. He will miss his colleagues at the Department of State and the foreign ministers he has worked with throughout the world.”
President Trump says he made decision to ouster Rex Tillerson "by myself." https://t.co/6QpRM1hBru pic.twitter.com/yjvoPPplBN
— NBC News (@NBCNews) March 13, 2018
What a way to go. No one apparently knew about this before the Trump tweet.
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