WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump’s press secretary isn’t denying reports that he is considering replacing Secretary of State Rex Tillerson. But Sarah Huckabee Sanders noted that Tillerson had met with Trump on Thursday, and she said: “When the president loses confidence in somebody they will no longer serve in their position.”
Administration officials say the White House is developing a plan to replace Tillerson with CIA Director Mike Pompeo but the timetable for a change is uncertain.
The State Department says White House chief of staff John Kelly is disputing reports of a plan to replace Tillerson.
State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert says Kelly called Tillerson’s chief of staff, Margaret Peterlin, on Thursday to say the “rumors are not true.”
Nauert says Tillerson serves at the president’s pleasure and remains in his role until told otherwise. She says that Tillerson “brushed this off today” because he’s heard such stories before.
Nauert says Tillerson is “going about his business” and will travel to Europe on an official trip starting Monday.
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