Tillerson: ‘I have never considered leaving this post’

WASHINGTON—Secretary of State Rex Tillerson tackled rumors about a tenuous relationship with the president on Wednesday, announcing he has never considered resigning. “There’s much to be done and we’re just getting started,” Tillerson told reporters at an impromptu news conference. “To address a few specifics that have been erroneously reported this morning, the vice president has never had to persuade me to remain a secretary of state because I have never considered leaving this post.” NBC News reported Wednesday morning an irate Tillerson nearly resigned over the summer after feuding with President Donald Trump about a speech to the Boy Scouts of America. The report stated Vice President Mike Pence helped persuade Tillerson to remain. After Tillerson refuted the claim, Trump defended him on Twitter. “It is #FakeNews,” Trump wrote of the NBC report. “They should issue an apology to AMERICA!” Though Trump often praises Tillerson, the two seemed to be on different wavelengths last weekend. After meeting with Chinese leaders regarding North Korea, Tillerson announced there were still open channels to continue negotiating with the rogue nation. Trump refuted the idea hours later, tweeting Tillerson should not waste his time trying to reason with North Korea.