Rex Tillerson openly says he disagreed with Trump's decision to withdraw from the Paris Agreement

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."

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