Trump fires Tillerson as US secretary of state

Rex Tillerson, left, and Mike Pompeo / Reuters

By Jhoo Dong-chan

U.S. President Donald Trump ousted Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, Tuesday, (local time) and nominated Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Director Mike Pompeo as his replacement.

According to a statement released by the White House, Tuesday, President Trump named Pompeo as the nation’s top diplomat

“I am proud to nominate the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, Mike Pompeo, to be our new Secretary of State,” said Trump.

“As Director of the CIA, Mike has earned the praise of members in both parties by strengthening our intelligence gathering, modernizing our defensive and offensive capabilities, and building close ties with our friends and allies in the international intelligence community. I have gotten to know Mike very well over the past 14 months, and I am confident he is the right person for the job at this critical juncture.”

Gina Haspel, the deputy director of the CIA, will succeed Pompeo to become the agency’s first female director.

Pompeo said upon his nomination: “I am deeply grateful to President Trump for permitting me to serve as director of the Central Intelligence Agency and for this opportunity to serve as secretary of state. His leadership has made America safer and I look forward to representing him and the American people to the rest of the world to further America’s prosperity.”

White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said Trump had asked Tillerson to step aside, replacing him with Pompeo, as Trump confirmed his decision on Twitter.

“Thanks to Rex Tillerson for his service! Mike Pompeo, Director of the CIA, will become our new Secretary of State. He will do a fantastic job,” he said in his twitter post.

The White House added Trump wants to have new team in place ahead of upcoming talks with North Korea alongside various trade talks.