Rex Tillerson sacked as Mike Pompeo is appointed new US Secretary of State by Donald Trump

Donald Trump today rocked America by replacing his Secretary of State Rex Tillerson.

The US president announced Mr Tillerson’s departure by Twitter in the early hours of the morning in America.

A State Department spokesman said he found out about his sacking after reading Mr Trump's tweet.

He wrote: “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!”

He added that Gina Haspel will become the new director of the CIA, stepping up from the deputy’s role.

Mr Trump stressed she would be the first woman in the post, adding, bizarrely: “Congratulations to all!”

President Trump today rocked America by replacing Rex Tillerson as the US Secretary of State
Getty

Speaking outside the White House on Tuesday, he said he had made the decision to oust Mr Tillerson "by myself" and that he believed "Mr Tillerson will be much happier now".

He added: "Rex and I have been talking about this for a long time. We got along actually quite well but we disagreed on things, for example when you look at the Iran deal."

US President Donald Trump responds to questions after sacking Rex Tillerson
Getty

Mr Trump also said that Mr Tillerson had not been involved in the decision to hold talks with North Korea last week adding: "I really didn't discuss it."

He praised the energy and intellect of his incoming Secretary of State Mr Pompeo. Mr Trump said: "We're always on the same wavelength... That's what I need as secretary of state."

Mr Tillerson is the third major departure from the White House so far this year, following economic adviser Gary Cohn and communications director Hope Hicks.

Sacked from his post as US Secretary of State: Rex Tillerson
AFP/Getty Images

However, it is the biggest shake-up of the Trump Cabinet so far and immediately raised fresh questions over Mr Trump’s maverick presidency.

Mr Tillerson, 65, and Mr Trump have clashed over a series of foreign affairs issues, with the two appearing to be at odds over how to respond to Russia over the Salisbury nerve agent attempted assassination of ex-double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia.

Donald Trump walks off Marine One after announcing the sacking of Rex Tillerson
AFP

President Trump initially avoided blaming the Kremlin over the assassination attempt in Salisbury, while Mr Tillerson had publicly backed the UK's finding that Russia was "highly likely" to have use a weapons-grade nerve agent on British soil.

The US leader revealed he would be speaking with UK Prime Minister Theresa May about the spy poisoning later on Tuesday.

Former chief executive of Exxon Mobil, Mr Tilleson, has also previously declined to deny that he had called the president a “moron”.

Trump and Tillerson's disagreements

 

North Korea

Mr Trump disavowed his then Secretary of State’s approach towards the rogue regime, saying in October that Mr Tillerson was: “wasting his time trying to negotiate with Little Rocket Man [Kim Jong Un].”

Iran nuclear deal

Following his meeting with Iran officials in September, Mr Tillerson told reporters Mr Trump was “still considering” whether to decertify Iran of violations of the deal. But the US leader had hours earlier already said publically: “I have decided”.

Paris climate accord

Mr Tillerson openly disagreed with the president’s decision to withdraw the US from the agreement in August last year. He said: “I was free to express my views. I took a counter view to the decision that was made.”

Qatar crisis

Just hours after Mr Tillerson issued a statement calling for dialogue to end the dispute last June, Mr Trump demanded Qatar ends its financing of terror. A state department official was reported as saying the president’s comments “undermined what the secretary had to say”.

Afghanistan war strategy

Addressing the US military in Virginia in August, the US President said: “From now on, victory will have a clear definition: attacking our enemies, obliterating ISIS, crushing Al Qaeda, preventing the Taliban from taking over Afghanistan, and stopping mass terror attacks against America before they emerge." 

Shortly afterwards, addressing the Taliban, Mr Tillerson expressed his hopes for a different approach. "You will not win a battlefield victory. We may not win one, but neither will you… So at some point, we have to come to the negotiating table and find a way to bring this to an end."

Venezuela sanctions

Advised by Venezuela expert David Shannon, Mr Tillerson spoke out to say he was in favour of diplomacy over the sanctions. But Mr Trump stated in August that he was "not going to rule out a military option”.

Salisbury attempted assassination

President Trump initially avoided blaming the Kremlin over the hit, while Mr Tillerson had publicly backed the UK's finding that Russia was "highly likely" to have use a weapons-grade nerve agent on British soil.

Mr Trump was reported to have asked Mr Tillerson last Friday asked Tillerson to stand down.

America’s top diplomat cut short a trip to Africa yesterday to return to Washington.

His departure sparked wobbles on the markets, with US stock index futures paring their gains and the dollar also trimming gains versus the yen while extending losses versus the euro.

Mr Tillerson’s departure comes at a crucial time as Mr Trump is due to hold talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

The White House suggested Mr Trump wanted him gone ahead of these talks and new trade negotiations.

It will also renew questions over the running of the White House as the Mueller inquiry continues into alleged collusion between Mr Trump’s presidential election campaign and Russia, which he denies.

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