Rex Tillerson
Trump picks Exxon CEO as secretary of state
WASHINGTON, December 14, 2016
US President-elect Donald Trump on Tuesday officially selected Rex Tillerson, the chief executive of Exxon Mobil, to be his secretary of state.
In a statement, Trump praised Tillerson, 64, as among the "most accomplished business leaders and international dealmakers" in the world.
With this, the president-elect is dismissing bipartisan concerns that the globe-trotting leader of an energy giant has a too-cozy relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin, President of Russia, said the New York Times.
Exxon Mobil has billions of dollars in oil contracts that can go forward only if the US lifts sanctions against Russia, and Tillerson’s stake in Russia’s energy industry could create a very blurry line between his interests as an oilman and his role as America’s leading diplomat, according to the report.
The nominations needs Senate approval.