On Wednesday, the Senate confirmed President Donald Trump’s nominee for Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson, in a 56-43 vote. Every Senate Republican along with four Democratic Senators joined together to vote in approval of the Exxon CEO that was selected by Trump to lead the State Department in December.
Democratic Senators Joe Manchin of West Virginia, Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota, Mark Warner of Virginia, and Angus King from Maine were the four who crossed party lines to help confirm the nation’s top diplomat.
When then-President-elect Trump nominated Tillerson, he stated that what he likes best about his pick “is that he has vast experience at dealing successfully with all types of foreign governments.” The 64-year-old business man has gained a reputation of building strong relations with foreign leaders while negotiating deals around the world as an oil tycoon for over 40 years.
“Rex Tillerson’s career is the embodiment of the American dream,” Trump said in a statement. “Through hard work, dedication and smart deal making, Rex rose through the ranks to become CEO of ExxonMobil, one of the world’s largest and most respected companies.”
“His tenacity, broad experience and deep understanding of geopolitics make him an excellent choice for Secretary of State,” the statement continued. “He will promote regional stability and focus on the core national security interests of the United States. Rex knows how to manage a global enterprise, which is crucial to running a successful State Department, and his relationships with leaders all over the world are second to none. I can think of no one more prepared, and no one more dedicated, to serve as Secretary of State at this critical time in our history.”
Senator Bob Corker, the Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations, released a statement following the confirmation.
Tillerson “possesses deep relationships around the world, and understands the critical role of U.S. leadership,” he said. “He has expressed a commitment to defend American values and to restore U.S. credibility by strengthening old alliances and building new ones.”
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