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| Trump challenges Rex Tillerson to IQ test | Trump challenges Rex Tillerson to IQ test |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| US President Donald Trump has challenged his Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson, to an IQ test, in the latest sign of discord between the two. | US President Donald Trump has challenged his Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson, to an IQ test, in the latest sign of discord between the two. |
| He made the remark in a magazine interview when asked about reports that Mr Tillerson had called him a moron. | He made the remark in a magazine interview when asked about reports that Mr Tillerson had called him a moron. |
| "I think it's fake news," Mr Trump told Forbes, "but if he did that, I guess we'll have to compare IQ tests. And I can tell you who is going to win." | "I think it's fake news," Mr Trump told Forbes, "but if he did that, I guess we'll have to compare IQ tests. And I can tell you who is going to win." |
| Mr Trump had lunch on Tuesday with Mr Tillerson. | |
| Shortly beforehand, the president maintained he still had confidence in the secretary of state. | |
| "I did not undercut anybody," he also told reporters. "I don't believe in undercutting people." | |
| Asked about Mr Trump's IQ test challenge, White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders told the daily news briefing: "It was a joke. You should get a sense of humour." | |
| Reports have swirled of a schism in the Trump administration between the commander-in-chief and his top diplomat, as the US faces a host of vexatious foreign policy conundrums, from North Korea to Iran. | Reports have swirled of a schism in the Trump administration between the commander-in-chief and his top diplomat, as the US faces a host of vexatious foreign policy conundrums, from North Korea to Iran. |
| Last week Mr Tillerson called a news conference to deny reports that he was considering quitting. | Last week Mr Tillerson called a news conference to deny reports that he was considering quitting. |
| But the former ExxonMobil chief executive did not refute an NBC News report that he had called his boss a moron after a July meeting at the Pentagon. | But the former ExxonMobil chief executive did not refute an NBC News report that he had called his boss a moron after a July meeting at the Pentagon. |
| Earlier this month, Mr Trump publicly undercut the former Texas oilman by tweeting that he was "wasting his time" trying to negotiate with nuclear-armed North Korea. | Earlier this month, Mr Trump publicly undercut the former Texas oilman by tweeting that he was "wasting his time" trying to negotiate with nuclear-armed North Korea. |
| Last week the New York Times reported that Mr Tillerson was astonished at how little Mr Trump grasps the basics of foreign policy. | Last week the New York Times reported that Mr Tillerson was astonished at how little Mr Trump grasps the basics of foreign policy. |
| According to the newspaper, quoting sources close to the secretary of state, Mr Trump has been irritated by Mr Tillerson's body language during meetings. | According to the newspaper, quoting sources close to the secretary of state, Mr Trump has been irritated by Mr Tillerson's body language during meetings. |
| Mr Tillerson is said to roll his eyes or slouch when he disagrees with the decisions of his boss. | Mr Tillerson is said to roll his eyes or slouch when he disagrees with the decisions of his boss. |
| A classic Trump counter-punch | A classic Trump counter-punch |
| Analysis by Anthony Zurcher, BBC North America reporter | Analysis by Anthony Zurcher, BBC North America reporter |
| Donald Trump insists that the stories about Rex Tillerson insulting his intelligence - despite being heavily sourced - are "fake news". Now, however, he's lobbing one of his trademark counter-punches, just in case. | Donald Trump insists that the stories about Rex Tillerson insulting his intelligence - despite being heavily sourced - are "fake news". Now, however, he's lobbing one of his trademark counter-punches, just in case. |
| Mr Tillerson thinks he's a moron? Well, he's smarter than Rex, that's for certain. | Mr Tillerson thinks he's a moron? Well, he's smarter than Rex, that's for certain. |
| It's classic Trump - a slightly less juvenile version of the "I guarantee you there's no problem" retort Mr Trump snapped off during a Republican debate, when Senator Marco Rubio questioned the size of his, er, manhood. | It's classic Trump - a slightly less juvenile version of the "I guarantee you there's no problem" retort Mr Trump snapped off during a Republican debate, when Senator Marco Rubio questioned the size of his, er, manhood. |
| Mr Trump tends to get touchy when people doubt his intellect. That's probably why the "moron" line has prompted such a furious response from the White House and State Department. During the campaign he said he doesn't have to consult generals because he has "a very good brain" and told a rally in South Carolina that he was highly educated and has "the best words". | Mr Trump tends to get touchy when people doubt his intellect. That's probably why the "moron" line has prompted such a furious response from the White House and State Department. During the campaign he said he doesn't have to consult generals because he has "a very good brain" and told a rally in South Carolina that he was highly educated and has "the best words". |
| In August, he boasted that he was a "better student" and went to better schools than all his elite critics. | In August, he boasted that he was a "better student" and went to better schools than all his elite critics. |
| Mr Tillerson may have opened a difficult-to-repair rift with the president. While Mr Trump is quite comfortable with insult-trading, there's one topic that's clearly off-limits. | Mr Tillerson may have opened a difficult-to-repair rift with the president. While Mr Trump is quite comfortable with insult-trading, there's one topic that's clearly off-limits. |