Secretary of State Rex Tillerson referred to President Trump as a “moron” after a July 20 meeting at the Pentagon — and was on the verge of resigning amid clashes with the administration, according to a report on Wednesday.
Vice President Mike Pence managed to persuade Tillerson — who is fourth in line to the presidency — to remain in the job at least until the end of the year, officials told NBC News.
Pence has since urged Tillerson to be respectful of the president, urging that any disagreements be sorted out in-house, a White House official told NBC News.
Tensions between Tillerson and Team Trump came to a boil around the time the president delivered a politicized address to the Boy Scouts of America, which Tillerson led for two years, according to the network.
A few days before the speech, Tillerson openly disparaged Trump as a “moron” during a meeting with members of his national security team and Cabinet members, three officials told NBC News.
Officials said that the administration, which has been buffeted by a series of top-level firings and resignations, would have struggled to cope with the fallout from a Cabinet member of Tillerson’s stature quitting so early in the presidency.
But despite the apparent rapprochement, tensions persist between the two men — notably his weekend, when Trump appeared to publicly scold Tillerson on his handling of North Korean crisis.
NBC News interviewed a dozen current and former senior administration officials for its report, as well as others who are close to Trump.
Tillerson — who was in Texas for his son’s wedding when Trump addressed the Boy Scouts — threatened not to return to Washington, three people with direct knowledge of the threats told NBC News.
He stood down after speaking with retired Gen. John Kelly, who would soon replace Reince Priebus as chief of staff, and Defense Secretary James Mattis, four sources told the network.
Pence then gave Tillerson a “pep talk” in Washington, one of these officials said, but also told the secretary that he had to figure out a way to move forward within Trump’s policy framework.
Kelly and Mattis have remained Tillerson’s staunchest allies in the cabinet.
In late July, “they did beg him to stay,” a senior administration official told NBC News. “They just wanted stability.”
The White House declined to comment on the record for the report.
Poster Comment:
#1: misterwhite To: Willie Green (#0)
Oh my. Maybe North Korea should negotiate. After all, Tillerson is the only man who stands between them and total annihilation! How will this end?!?
misterwhite posted on 2017-10-04 08:55:30 Reply Private Reply
#2: paraclete To: Willie Green (#0)
paraclete posted on 2017-10-04 08:56:24 Reply Private Reply
#3: Vicomte13 To: Willie Green (#0)
Tillerson isn't getting his way (and he's used to being the CEO, so it is frustrating to him).
Vicomte13 posted on 2017-10-04 08:58:55 Reply Private Reply
#4: Hank Rearden To: Willie Green (#0)
Hillary Milhous Felon will never be president.
Hank Rearden posted on 2017-10-04 10:44:15 Reply Private Reply
#5: misterwhite To: Willie Green (#0)
Well, hey. It's on YouTube. It must be true.
misterwhite posted on 2017-10-04 11:10:44 Reply Private Reply
#6: Tooconservative To: Willie Green, Vicomte13, paraclete, misterwhite, Hank Rearden (#0)
TheRightScoop: WATCH: Tillerson DENIES that he ever considered quitting, but DODGES when asked about calling Trump a MORON…
So, Willie, are you going to retract your libels or ask AKA to delete this dishonest article?
Tooconservative posted on 2017-10-04 11:37:21 Reply Private Reply
#7: Stoner To: Willie Green (#0)
Well, this is NOT a good sign of unity in the administration. I am sure Saint Donald is not happy. Tillerson better hide, for he will now receive deadly tweets!
Stoner posted on 2017-10-04 11:40:17 Reply Private Reply
#8: misterwhite To: Tooconservative (#6)
Dodges? He refused to lower himself.
Me? I would have ripped the MSM a new one for wasting my time with this bullshit. Starting with the banning of reporters until a public explanation and public apology was made.
misterwhite posted on 2017-10-04 12:02:00 Reply Private Reply
#9: Tooconservative To: misterwhite (#8)
Tooconservative posted on 2017-10-04 13:02:00 Reply Private Reply
#10: Liberator To: Liberator (#0)
Chyeah. "Report" by yet one more GOPe spy/insider saboteur.
Kelly and Mattis have remained Tillerson’s staunchest allies in the cabinet.
Establishment Globalist-Firster NWO-Tools of a feather.
Liberator posted on 2017-10-04 13:10:57 Reply Private Reply
#11: Liberator To: misterwhite (#8)
Yes, ripping, embarrassing, and BANNING MSM tools/liars is a good solution in any case...
Yet still and all Tillerson is Globalist Tool with obvious attitude problems and open disrespect over his CiC. It's hardlt the first time this self-annointed State Dept Queen has been reported dissing the President.
Liberator posted on 2017-10-04 13:18:25 Reply Private Reply
#12: Liberator To: Vicomte13 (#3)
Well, ALL Globalist-Firster State Dept Queens usually do get their way, don't they?
This guy has been stomping his widdle feet since Day one.
Mattis has been a prickly mutt.
Kelly has his own agenda -- heck they ALL do: They ALL agree that Trump's MAGA has NOTHING to do with their own collective anti-MAGA agenda.
The obvious: ALL THREE arrogant Boss Hogg selections were as you say, used to being Boss. All three were shoved down Trump's throat for what that's worth. There can only be ONE CiC.
Liberator posted on 2017-10-04 13:27:00 Reply Private Reply
#13: paraclete To: Vicomte13 (#3)
Then you are a person of limited experience
Moron refers to a person of low intelligence, someone incapable of coherent thought and Trump certainly conveys this
paraclete posted on 2017-10-04 18:43:55 Reply Private Reply
#14: Hondo68 To: paraclete (#13)
He's a lot like George W. Bush.
Hondo68 posted on 2017-10-04 18:48:25 Reply Private Reply
#15: paraclete To: hondo68 (#14)
I'll give Bush the benefit of the doubt and say he has a higher IQ than Trump
paraclete posted on 2017-10-06 20:23:50 Reply Private Reply