Hours after getting fired by President trump, US Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson gives farewell statement

Earllier in the day, President Donald Trump fired the US Secretary of State. Rex Tillerson who had just returned from a trip to Africa.

Rex Tillerson has now given his farewell statement speaking from the State Department where he thanked the American people, his State Department staff and the nation’s extensive network of diplomats.


One person he did not thank was President Donald Trump, the man who nominated him for the job but abruptly told the world of his ouster via a tweet on Tuesday morning. The only mention of Trump came at the top of the statement when Tillerson mentioned that the President had called him at “a little after noontime from Air Force One” to talk about his ouster.

Tillerson told reporters he is delegating all his authorities at the end of Tuesday and that his tenure will officially end on March 31.

Highlighting what he considers key accomplishments from his year in the top US diplomatic post, Tillerson mentioned his efforts to bring North Korea to the negotiating table through a “maximum pressure campaign. Working with allies, we exceeded the expectations of almost everyone with the DPRK maximum pressure campaign,” Tillerson told reporters.

He also highlighted progress in Afghanistan and in the global campaign against ISIS in Syria. Speaking from the agency’s briefing room, Tillerson said his priority is to ensure a smooth transition.