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Trump fires Rex Tillerson as Secretary of State Trump fires Rex Tillerson as Secretary of State
(35 minutes later)
President Donald Trump has fired Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, replacing him with CIA Director Mike Pompeo. Donald Trump has fired Secretary of State Rex Tillerson - with no explanation given to the outgoing top diplomat - the latest indicator of a White House in chaos as high-profile officials continue to exit the administration with little or no forewarning. 
The change comes at a delicate time for US diplomacy, with the president having just accepted an invitation to hold face-to-face talks with North Korea’s leader, Kim Jong-un, about the nuclear threat posed by Pyongyang. There are suggestions that Mr Trump wanted to make the change before the North Korea talks, but it is unusual for such a big change to be made at such a key time. 
US foreign policy on Russia also remains an issue. The announcement of the firing was made a day after Mr Tillerson said "we have full confidence" in the UK's assessment that Russia was likely responsible for a nerve agent attack against a former Russian spy in Salisbury last week. Mr Tillerson's comments went further than the White House's response, which stopped short of pinning blame on Moscow. 
Stunning Washington once again, Mr Trump first made the declaration on Twitter that he was getting rid of Mr Tillerson and replacing him with CIA Director Mike Pompeo.
 
With Mr Pompeo moving, CIA Deputy Director Gina Haspel will take over the running of that department.With Mr Pompeo moving, CIA Deputy Director Gina Haspel will take over the running of that department.
The change comes at a delicate time for US diplomacy, with the president having just accepted an invitation to hold face-to-face talks with North Korea’s leader, Kim Jong-un about the nuclear threat posed by Pyongyang. There are suggestions that Mr Trump wanted to make the change before the North Korea talks, but it is unusual for such a big change to be made at such a key time. 
Mr Tillerson had just returned from a shortened trip to Africa hours before Mr Trump’s announcement. Mr Tillerson had just returned from a shortened trip to Africa hours before Mr Trump’s announcement. 
At a news conference, Mr Trump said he made the decision to replace Mr Tillerson ”by himself”. At a news conference, Mr Trump said he made the decision to replace Mr Tillerson ”by himself”. 
He also complimented Mr Pompeo and said they have similar thought processes. Mr Trump added that the Iran nuclear deal had been a source of disagreement between him and Mr Tillerson. He also complimented Mr Pompeo and said they have similar thought processes. Mr Trump added that the Iran nuclear deal had been a source of disagreement between him and Mr Tillerson. 
“I respect [Pompeo’s]] intellect....chemistry...whatever it is, I have gotten along with Mike Pompeo....I wish Rex a lot of good things....I think Rex will be a lot happier now,” Mr Trump said. “I respect [Pompeo’s]] intellect....chemistry...whatever it is, I have gotten along with Mike Pompeo....I wish Rex a lot of good things....I think Rex will be a lot happier now,” Mr Trump said. 
In the announcement, Mr Trump and the White House focused on Mr Pompeo and the history Mr Trump was making by appointing the first female director of the CIA . Both Mr Pompeo and Ms Haspel will need to be confirmed by the Senate to take their new positions.In the announcement, Mr Trump and the White House focused on Mr Pompeo and the history Mr Trump was making by appointing the first female director of the CIA . Both Mr Pompeo and Ms Haspel will need to be confirmed by the Senate to take their new positions.
In a remarkable statement, Under Secretary of State Steve Goldstein said Mr Trump never explained to Mr Tillerson why he was being dismissed, and that the top diplomat had wanted to remain in the job. In a remarkable statement, Under Secretary of State Steve Goldstein said Mr Trump never explained to Mr Tillerson why he was being dismissed, and that the top diplomat had wanted to remain in the job. 
“The Secretary had every intention of remaining because of the tangible progress made on critical national security issues,” Mr Goldstein said. “He established and enjoyed relationships with his counterparts. He will miss his colleagues at the Department of State and enjoyed working together with the Department of Defense in an uncommonly robust relationship.” “The Secretary had every intention of remaining because of the tangible progress made on critical national security issues,” Mr Goldstein said. “He established and enjoyed relationships with his counterparts. He will miss his colleagues at the Department of State and enjoyed working together with the Department of Defense in an uncommonly robust relationship.” 
Mr Goldstein continued: “Thee Secretary did not speak to the President this morning and is unaware of the reason, but he is grateful for the opportunity to serve, and still believes strongly that public service is a noble calling and not to be regretted.”  Mr Goldstein continued: “The Secretary did not speak to the President this morning and is unaware of the reason, but he is grateful for the opportunity to serve, and still believes strongly that public service is a noble calling and not to be regretted.” 
A senior White House official told news outlets that Mr Trump asked Mr Tillerson to step down on Friday, but the President did want not to make the announcement while Mr Tillerson was on a trip to Africa.A senior White House official told news outlets that Mr Trump asked Mr Tillerson to step down on Friday, but the President did want not to make the announcement while Mr Tillerson was on a trip to Africa.
The firing of Mr Tillerson will not lead to an improvement in strained ties with Germany,  German Deputy Foreign Minister Michael Roth said. The firing of Mr Tillerson will not lead to an improvement in strained ties with Germany,  German Deputy Foreign Minister Michael Roth said. 
“The dismissal of Rex #Tillerson does not make anything better,” Mr Roth said in a tweet.“The dismissal of Rex #Tillerson does not make anything better,” Mr Roth said in a tweet.
Mr Trump and Mr Tillerson have numerous reports about the breakdown of their relationship in recent months, which have been denied by both the White House and the State Department. Mr Trump had suggested last week that more changes were coming at the White House, after economic advisor Gary Cohn resigned in the wake of disagreements with the president about his policy on trade tariffs. Mr Trump also lost his Communications Director Hope Hicks late last month after she resigned.Mr Trump and Mr Tillerson have numerous reports about the breakdown of their relationship in recent months, which have been denied by both the White House and the State Department. Mr Trump had suggested last week that more changes were coming at the White House, after economic advisor Gary Cohn resigned in the wake of disagreements with the president about his policy on trade tariffs. Mr Trump also lost his Communications Director Hope Hicks late last month after she resigned.
Joe Cirincione, president of Ploughshares Fund, a global security foundation, told The Independent that “this is a disaster for American diplomacy.”Joe Cirincione, president of Ploughshares Fund, a global security foundation, told The Independent that “this is a disaster for American diplomacy.”
“For all his faults, Tillerson was a supporter of military restraint and negotiated solutions to our key security threat,”  Mr Cirincione said. “He was a key ally of Defence Secretary Jim Mattis in supporting the nuclear deal with Iran and resisting the illusion of a military solution to the crisis with North Korea. He will now be replaced by an inexperienced hawk who opposed the Iran Deal in Congress”. “For all his faults, Tillerson was a supporter of military restraint and negotiated solutions to our key security threat,”  Mr Cirincione said. “He was a key ally of Defence Secretary Jim Mattis in supporting the nuclear deal with Iran and resisting the illusion of a military solution to the crisis with North Korea. He will now be replaced by an inexperienced hawk who opposed the Iran Deal in Congress”.