President Donald Trump did not hide his frustrations with Secretary of State Rex Tillerson in public, evidenced by his tweets in recent months chastising Tillerson for attempting to reach a diplomatic solution with “Rocket Man” in North Korea.
That public humiliation culminated Tuesday in Trump’s decision to inform his secretary of state that he was out of a job via Twitter.
But Trump also reportedly wasn’t shy about expressing his irritation with Tillerson in private, in the West Wing, either.
According to The Washington Post, Trump became annoyed with Tillerson early-on in the presidency and would openly mock Tillerson’s “mannerisms and Texas drawl, saying his secretary of state talked too slowly,” in the Post’s words.
Trump would also reportedly tell friends and advisers that Tillerson was “weak” and would often name off other people he thought would be better at the job. Trump was reportedly particularly irked with Tillerson over his negative news coverage, according to the Post.
“This guy never gets a good story,” Trump said, according to an adviser who spoke with the Post.
Tillerson wasn’t innocent of mocking Trump either. The secretary of state reportedly called Trump a “moron” last summer, which pushed Trump to tweet challenging Tillerson’s I.Q.
Among his frustrations with the President, Tillerson was reportedly bothered by Trump’s impulsive behavior, his vulgarity and his inability to focus. Despite that, Tillerson reportedly wanted to stay in the job, even up until the point that he found out through Twitter Tuesday that he had been fired.
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! Gina Haspel will become the new Director of the CIA, and the first woman so chosen. Congratulations to all!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 13, 2018
Mr. Bigly Yuge with all the hand gestures mocking mannerisms and speech patterns of others?
Oh, Prunella
Keeping it classy, Donald. Keeping it classy.
I’ve worked at a McDonald’s for a more professional and more effective boss.
No leadership. Sad.
If Tillerson had any integrity he would come out and state the obvious, that Trump is woefully incompetent and he should resign the presidency.
Not to mention the Clairol Blonde Hair Helmet on a 70 plus year old man. Not to mention talking about Frederick Douglass without bothering to know who he was or when he lived and died. Not to mention being a total fraud who committed treason.