Update, 2:55 p.m.:Tillerson says he is staying at the State Department until the end of March to help facilitate the transition to Mike Pompeo’s tenure but that as of the end of the day Tuesday he will be delegating final authority for running the department to Deputy Secretary John Sullivan. (Pompeo will need to be confirmed by a majority of the Senate before taking office.)
Original post, 1:13 p.m.: Donald Trump announced via tweet on Tuesday that Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has been fired.
A high-ranking State official named Steve Goldstein then said that Tillerson had found out he’d been fired at the same time everyone else in the world did:
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Remarkable statement from State Department spokesman on Tillerson firing: pic.twitter.com/iBpLaK1tXw
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) March 13, 2018
The White House responded that chief of staff John Kelly had in fact spoken to Tillerson about his dismissal in advance:
NEW: COS John Kelly spoke with Tillerson on Friday AND Saturday to discuss his firing, I'm told by a senior White House Official
But then two “senior department officials” at State leaked back that all Kelly actually told Tillerson was that “there might be a presidential tweet that would concern him.” (LOL!)
Wow. AP is reporting John Kelly called Tillerson on Friday, but only told him to expect a possible tweet from the president in the near future. https://t.co/KFko7n8wBr pic.twitter.com/mhO0rkeLqZ
— Haley Byrd (@byrdinator) March 13, 2018
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Then the White House fireda senior department official (Steve Goldstein) for getting smart :
BREAKING: Officials: White House fires top Tillerson aide who contradicted account of secretary of state's dismissal.
— The Associated Press (@AP) March 13, 2018
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And, in the cherry on this sundae of efficient and forthright presidential leadership, no one knows who the United States’ secretary of state is at the moment.
Who is Secretary of State right now?? The White House tells ABC Tillerson is STILL SecState during a transition period. Asked to comment a senior State Dept official said the press office is unaware of that. Sanders said John Sullivan will become acting SoS soon, didnt know when.
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