Donald Trump picks ExxonMobil CEO Rex Tillerson for secretary of state

Peter Weber, The Week US's avatar
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Rex Tillerson is Donald Trump's pick for secretary of state
(Image credit: Ben Stansall/AFP/Getty Images)

On Tuesday morning, President-elect Donald Trump named ExxonMobil CEO Rex Tillerson as his pick for secretary of state, calling him "among the most accomplished business leaders and international deal makers in the world" as well as "the embodiment of the American dream." There has already been pushback from Republicans over Tillerson's Kremlin ties. Tillerson, who has never held a government position, is close to Russian President Vladimir Putin, and in 2012 he received Russia's Order of Friendship award.

He has worked at Exxon since the 1970s, and is a longtime contributor to Republican campaigns, although he did not donate to Trump. Former GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney, another purported finalist for secretary of state, confirmed Monday night that he had not been selected for the position.

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Peter Weber, The Week US
Peter Weber, The Week US

Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.