Tea for the Tillerson

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson appeared on Fox News Sunday with Chris Wallace yesterday. Video of the entire 13-minute interview is embedded below. Tillerson made news in one respect that belies his standing in the Trump administration.

Asked about President Trump’s response to the “racial protests in Charlottesville” (at 11:25) and a UN committee statement condemning the response, Tillerson responded in part: “I don’t believe anyone doubts the American people’s values or the commitment of the American government, or the government’s agencies to advancing those values and defending those values.”

Asked the obvious follow-up question regarding Trump himself, Tillerson responded: “The president speaks for himself, Chris.”

Tillerson serves in high office at the pleasure of the president, fourth in line to the presidency. There are many things Tillerson could have truthfully said to support the president or at least not to undermine him, particularly in response to a UN committee statement. I’m pretty sure that John Bolton or Nikki Haley would have said them. Tillerson apparently didn’t think he could honorably do so.

If not, it’s time for him to go. I take it that he wants to go. He should get his wish sooner rather than later.

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