McConnell Is Confident That Rex Tillerson Is Up For Secretary Of State

ExxonMobil CEO and chairman Rex W. Tillerson gives a speech at the annual Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition & Conference in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, on Monday, Nov. 7, 2016. Those attending the con... ExxonMobil CEO and chairman Rex W. Tillerson gives a speech at the annual Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition & Conference in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, on Monday, Nov. 7, 2016. Those attending the conference this week remain worried about low global oil prices. (AP Photo/Jon Gambrell) MORE LESS

Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) told Kentucky Educational Television that Rex Tillerson is up to the job of Secretary of State despite Tillerson’s past history with Russia.

McConnell argued in an interview that Tillerson’s past business interests as the CEO of ExxonMobil would not get in the way of Tillerson’s ability to do the job.

“I don’t have any doubt that Rex Tillerson will be representing the United States of America,” McConnell said.

Tillerson is among one of Trump’s most controversial picks for the cabinet. Republicans like Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) have voiced skepticism over Tillerson’s cozy relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Tillerson was awarded “Order of Friendship” in 2013, an award Putin bestowed upon him for his contributions to Russia.

McConnell argued that Tillerson was just doing his job.

“I know Rex pretty well,” McConnell said. “He was representing his company — that was his job to be CEO of Exxon Mobil, one of the largest corporations in the world and they search for oil and gas all over the world.”

McConnell discounted any concerns that Tillerson was in Russia’s pocket.

“My guess is that Vladimir Putin will be vey disappointed with the Rex Tillerson he got as secretary of state,” McConnell said.

13
Show Comments

Notable Replies

  1. Glad to hear it. Wouldn’t want the Majority Leader to think the guy was being nominated for Secretary of Transportation.

    And what better person to be in charge of our foreign relations than a man who’s a foreign agent?

  2. Avatar for dnl dnl says:

    How many ‘pockets’ does Rex have?

  3. So is McConnell cool with the Russian sanctions being repealed?

  4. My hypothesis is that any time any where a Republican can drill down then the Party has no problem with it.

  5. IOKIYAR…

    So trump is free to do so…

Continue the discussion at forums.talkingpointsmemo.com

7 more replies

Participants

Avatar for system1 Avatar for sysprog Avatar for old_curmudgeon Avatar for epicurus Avatar for inversion Avatar for lastroth Avatar for dnl Avatar for jonney_5 Avatar for jviscont1 Avatar for dannydorko Avatar for bashful

Continue Discussion