What Exxon's Rex Tillerson might mean as secretary of state
Democrats and some Republican lawmakers expressed concerns about the extensive business dealings in Russia of Trump’s nominee to be secretary of state, but several former diplomats said ExxonMobil CEO Rex Tillerson brings significant global experience negotiating in complex environments.
WASHINGTON — ExxonMobil CEO Rex Tillerson, a four-decade employee of the energy giant, is President-elect Donald Trump's nominee to be secretary of state. While Democrats and some Republican lawmakers expressed concern about his extensive business dealings in Russia, as well as his lack of formal diplomatic experience, several former diplomats said Tillerson brings significant global experience negotiating in complex environments, and suggested that a “gap” between the Washington foreign policy and business communities could explain misunderstanding of Tillerson’s experience.
James Jeffrey, a former US ambassador to Iraq and Turkey who has served as an adviser to Exxon, said Tillerson knows the Middle East as well as any diplomat.
