
Incoming White House chief of staff Reince Priebus on Sunday said President-elect Trump’s anticipated pick for secretary of state is “absolutely” qualified for the position, despite mounting questions about his business dealings in Russia.
Priebus declined to confirm whether Exxon Mobil CEO Rex Tillerson has been tapped for the top diplomatic post, but said Tillerson is uniquely qualified for the position.
Tillerson has “extensive knowledge of our relationships across the globe, and extensive knowledge of international law, and extensive knowledge of how deals are put together in places of the world that are very sensitive,” Priebus told “Meet the Press” host Chuck Todd.
Priebus also said the oil tycoon has “intergovernmental relationships that are very unique to [him].”
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Some GOP lawmakers have taken to questioning Tillerson’s relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin, claiming it could present massive conflicts of interest for him and jeopardize America’s longstanding posture toward Russia if he becomes the nation’s top diplomat. On Saturday, Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman John McCain, R-Ariz., said Tillerson’s ties to Russia are “a matter of concern” to him, while South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham has called the possibility of him leading the State Department “unnerving.” “It might unnerve people who think that the best route for our country to go is to ignore people and to have an enemies list and adhere to that list,” Priebus said in response to such scrutiny. “But look, I just don’t believe … that solving the world’s biggest problems are best done by ignoring people and having crummy relationships across the globe.” “I would venture to say that Rex Tillerson doesn’t agree with that either,” he added.
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Barron will finish his school year before he and Melania move from New York City to D.C.
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12/11/16 10:29 AM
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