Rex Tillerson says he 'didn't want' to be secretary of state: 'My wife told me I'm supposed to do this'

(Image credit: LINTAO ZHANG/AFP/Getty Images)

published 22 March 2017

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson revealed in a recent interview with Independent Journal Review that his wife was more interested in him becoming secretary of state than he was. "I didn't want this job. I didn't seek this job," the former ExxonMobil CEO said. "My wife told me I'm supposed to do this."

Tillerson said he'd never met President Trump before he was called in for a conversation during the transition:

As president-elect, Trump wanted to have a conversation with Tillerson "about the world" given what he gleaned from the complex global issues he dealt with as CEO of Exxon Mobil."When he asked me at the end of that conversation to be secretary of state, I was stunned."When Tillerson got home and told his wife, Renda St. Clair, she shook her finger in his face and said, "I told you God's not through with you."With a half-worn smile, he said, "I was supposed to retire in March, this month. I was going to go to the ranch to be with my grandkids." [Independent Journal Review]

Tillerson indicated he's since come around to the idea. "My wife convinced me. She was right," Tillerson said. "I'm supposed to do this."