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| Rex Tillerson: Trump's new secretary of state | |
| (1 day later) | |
| Rex Tillerson, nominated by US President-elect Donald Trump to be secretary of state, runs the world's most valuable, publicly traded oil company. | |
| The 64-year-old, Texas-born head of Exxon Mobil has worked for the company in the US, Yemen and Russia, and is known for his close ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin. | |
| The Kremlin gave the Texan an Order of Friendship award in 2013. | The Kremlin gave the Texan an Order of Friendship award in 2013. |
| Republican Senator of Arizona John McCain expressed "concern" during an interview with Fox News, about Mr Tillerson's links to Mr Putin, whom the senator called "a thug, a bully and a murderer". | Republican Senator of Arizona John McCain expressed "concern" during an interview with Fox News, about Mr Tillerson's links to Mr Putin, whom the senator called "a thug, a bully and a murderer". |
| Democrats have also questioned Mr Tillerson's suitability and the process to have his nomination confirmed by the Senate may not run smoothly. | |
| Mr Tillerson has spent his entire career, more than 40 years, working for Exxon. He joined the company as a production engineer, fresh from University of Texas, Austin, and worked his way up to take the top job in 2006. | Mr Tillerson has spent his entire career, more than 40 years, working for Exxon. He joined the company as a production engineer, fresh from University of Texas, Austin, and worked his way up to take the top job in 2006. |
| He had been expected to retire next year. | He had been expected to retire next year. |
| Mr Trump's transitional team said Mr Tillerson would be "a forceful and clear-eyed advocate for America's vital national interests". | |
| It added he would "help reverse years of misguided foreign policies and actions that have weakened" the country's global standing. | |
| Mr Tillerson said he shared Mr Trump's vision "for restoring the credibility of the United States' foreign relations and advancing our country's national security". | |
| Russian ties | |
| During his time at Exxon, Mr Tillerson has forged multibillion-dollar deals with Russia's state oil company, Rosneft. | During his time at Exxon, Mr Tillerson has forged multibillion-dollar deals with Russia's state oil company, Rosneft. |
| He is also known to be a friend of Igor Sechin, Rosneft's executive chairman who was formerly Mr Putin's deputy prime minister. Mr Sechin has been called Russia's second most powerful man. | He is also known to be a friend of Igor Sechin, Rosneft's executive chairman who was formerly Mr Putin's deputy prime minister. Mr Sechin has been called Russia's second most powerful man. |
| Mr Tillerson has spoken out against international sanctions placed on Russia over its annexation of Crimea. | Mr Tillerson has spoken out against international sanctions placed on Russia over its annexation of Crimea. |
| In 2014, Exxon filed a report saying the US government and European Union's sanctions cost the company a maximum of $1bn (£790m) in damage to joint ventures. | |
| Mr Tillerson is known to be a supporter of free trade, whereas President-elect Trump has heavily criticised the US's existing agreements. | Mr Tillerson is known to be a supporter of free trade, whereas President-elect Trump has heavily criticised the US's existing agreements. |
| Republican donor | Republican donor |
| Exxon, which has about 75,000 employees around the world, has been accused of trying to cover up the risks of climate change and lying to the public. | Exxon, which has about 75,000 employees around the world, has been accused of trying to cover up the risks of climate change and lying to the public. |
| Yet Mr Tillerson accepts climate change is real and has spoken of "catastrophic" consequences if it were left unchecked. | Yet Mr Tillerson accepts climate change is real and has spoken of "catastrophic" consequences if it were left unchecked. |
| He is committed to the continued use of fossil fuels but open to the idea of a carbon tax. | He is committed to the continued use of fossil fuels but open to the idea of a carbon tax. |
| "The world is going to have to continue using fossil fuels, whether they like it or not," he said in May. | "The world is going to have to continue using fossil fuels, whether they like it or not," he said in May. |
| Mr Tillerson has made multiple large donations to the Republican Party. The Washington Post has reported that he initially supported, and funded Jeb Bush as the party's presidential nominee. | Mr Tillerson has made multiple large donations to the Republican Party. The Washington Post has reported that he initially supported, and funded Jeb Bush as the party's presidential nominee. |
| As a youth, he was a high-achieving scout and served as president of the Boy Scouts of America from 2010 to 2012. | As a youth, he was a high-achieving scout and served as president of the Boy Scouts of America from 2010 to 2012. |
| It was during his presidency that the organisation voted to welcome openly gay members, although a ban on openly gay adult scout leaders remained in place until 2015. | It was during his presidency that the organisation voted to welcome openly gay members, although a ban on openly gay adult scout leaders remained in place until 2015. |
| Mr Tillerson is also a former director of the United Negro College Fund, a US organisation that funds scholarships for black students and supports historically black colleges and universities. | Mr Tillerson is also a former director of the United Negro College Fund, a US organisation that funds scholarships for black students and supports historically black colleges and universities. |