United States President Donald Trump fires Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, names CIA Director Mike Pompeo as successor at State

Story by The Hill
Written by Morgan Chalfant and Max Greenwood

President Trump has removed Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and replaced him with CIA Director Mike Pompeo in a move that stunned Washington with its timing.

Trump is nominating Gina Haspel, Pompeo’s current deputy, to lead the CIA.

Trump told reporters Tuesday morning that he made the decision “by myself,” signaling he did not speak with Tillerson before firing him.

“I actually got along great with Rex, but really, it was a different mindset,” Trump said from the White House.

Those comments belied the fact that Trump and Tillerson had repeatedly clashed, most famously when the secretary of State reportedly referred to Trump in private as a "moron." The report clearly got under Trump's skin, and the president responded by challenging Tillerson to an IQ test.

Trump tweeted the news of the staff changes shortly after Tillerson's firing was first reported by The Washington Post.

"Mike Pompeo, Director of the CIA, will become our new Secretary of State," Trump tweeted.

"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!"
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Read more: http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/378073-tillerson-ousted-as-secretary-of-state-report