Is Trump considering replacing US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson with CIA boss Mike Pompeo?

By JOSH LEDERMAN and JILL COLVIN | AP
(COMBO) This combination of pictures created on November 30, 2017 shows US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson (L) and CIA Director Mike Pompeo in Washington, DC. The White House has a plan to force out Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and replace him with CIA chief Mike Pompeo within weeks, the New York Times reported. The newspaper quoted unnamed senior administration officials as saying Trump had soured on Tillerson and was ready for a change at the State Department, probably around the end of the year. — / AFP / MANDEL NGAN

WASHINGTON: Senior US officials say President Donald Trump is considering replacing Secretary of State Rex Tillerson to lead off a realignment of his national security team.
The officials say such a plan calls for Tillerson to be replaced by the director of the CIA, Mike Pompeo, who would then be replaced by Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas. The officials spoke about the possible changes on condition of anonymity.
Publicly, White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders didn’t confirm or deny that Trump was considering replacing Tillerson. Trump himself wouldn’t directly answer when asked if he wanted Tillerson to stay on the job.
Tillerson left Exxon Mobil as CEO to join the administration. Replacing the understated former oil man could significantly shift the tone and direction of Trump’s foreign policy.

Topics: Rex Tillerson Mike Pompeo United States US Secretary of state Donald Trump