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Trump on Tillerson Firing: We're Getting Very Close to Having the Cabinet I Want

March 13, 2018

President Donald Trump addressed reporters following his firing of Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on Tuesday, saying he was getting "very close to having the Cabinet and other things that I want."

Trump tweeted Tuesday he'd nominated CIA Director Mike Pompeo to replace Tillerson, with whom he differed on numerous issues such as North Korea, the Iran nuclear deal, moving the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem and exiting the Paris climate accord.

"I'm really at a point where we're getting very close to having the Cabinet and other things that I want," Trump said, appearing to suggest he didn't yet have a team to his full liking.

Trump said he appreciated Tillerson's service and wished him well, but he said "we disagreed on things." He added he made the decision to dismiss Tillerson "by myself."

"Rex is a very good man. I like Rex a lot," Trump said.

Trump said his relationship with Pompeo was excellent, praising his energy and intellect.

"We're always on the same wavelength," he said. "The relationship has been very good, and that's what I need as secretary of state."