Rex Tillerson openly says he disagreed with Trump's decision to withdraw from the Paris Agreement
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
You are now subscribed
Your newsletter sign-up was successful
Secretary of State Rex Tillerson openly confirmed Wednesday that he disagreed with President Trump's decision to withdraw the U.S. from the Paris Agreement. "I was free to express my views. I took a counter view to the decision that was made," Tillerson said.
Tillerson first admitted his opposition at a hearing Tuesday on the State Department's budget. The former ExxonMobil CEO told senators that he was one of the Trump administration's most outspoken critics of the move to bail on the global climate accord. "My view didn't change," Tillerson said. "My views were heard out. I respect that the president heard my views, but I respect the decision he's taken."
The Paris climate accord seeks to combat climate change by curbing carbon emissions. Tillerson noted that Trump was "quite deliberative" in his decision-making process over the deal, and "took some time to come to his decision, particularly waiting until he had heard from European counterparts in the G7."
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
A dreamy long weekend on the Amalfi CoastThe Week Recommends History, pasta, scenic views – this sun-drenched stretch of Italy’s southern coast has it all
-
Can foster care overhaul stop ‘exodus’ of carers?Today’s Big Question Government announces plans to modernise ‘broken’ system and recruit more carers, but fostering remains unevenly paid and highly stressful
-
6 exquisite homes with vast acreageFeature Featuring an off-the-grid contemporary home in New Mexico and lakefront farmhouse in Massachusetts
-
Judge blocks Hegseth from punishing Kelly over videoSpeed Read Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth pushed for the senator to be demoted over a video in which he reminds military officials they should refuse illegal orders
-
Trump’s EPA kills legal basis for federal climate policySpeed Read The government’s authority to regulate several planet-warming pollutants has been repealed
-
House votes to end Trump’s Canada tariffsSpeed Read Six Republicans joined with Democrats to repeal the president’s tariffs
-
Bondi, Democrats clash over Epstein in hearingSpeed Read Attorney General Pam Bondi ignored survivors of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and demanded that Democrats apologize to Trump
-
El Paso airspace closure tied to FAA-Pentagon standoffSpeed Read The closure in the Texas border city stemmed from disagreements between the Federal Aviation Administration and Pentagon officials over drone-related tests
-
Judge blocks Trump suit for Michigan voter rollsSpeed Read A Trump-appointed federal judge rejected the administration’s demand for voters’ personal data
-
US to send 200 troops to Nigeria to train armySpeed Read Trump has accused the West African government of failing to protect Christians from terrorist attacks
-
Grand jury rejects charging 6 Democrats for ‘orders’ videoSpeed Read The jury refused to indict Democratic lawmakers for a video in which they urged military members to resist illegal orders