Rex Tillerson

Rex Tillerson Faces Questioning In Confirmation Hearing For Secretary Of State

... 38 of 59. TRUMP IN TRANSITIONBetsy De Vos: Trump's pick for Education secretary | 0:50. Donald Trump has selected Michigan Republican, Betsy De Vos, for Secretary of Education. Here is what we know about her. USA TODAY NETWORK. 39 of 59. TRUMP IN TRANSITIONWilbur Ross expected to be tapped for Commerce secretary | 0:40. Billionaire investor Wilbur Ross is expected to be President-elect Donald Trump's choice for Commerce secretary, a senior transition official said. Trump met with Ross on Sunday at his New Jersey golf club. AP. 40 of 59. TRUMP IN TRANSITIONSources: Trump taps Gov. Haley for U. N. ambassador | 0:45. President-elect Donald Trump has selected South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley as ambassador to the United Nations, and he will treat it as a cabinet-level position. That’s according to two sources familiar with Trump’s decision. (Nov. 23) AP. 41 of 59. ...

Questions Senators Should Ask Rex Tillerson

... are “voluntary” in the sense of being self-chosen and not enforceable in international tribunals, developed countries are bound to make increasingly “ambitious” emission-reduction pledges every five years, and honoring those “non-binding” commitments requires turning them into binding domestic laws and regulations. The Agreement is set up to pressure each administration and Congress to adopt increasingly aggressive restrictions on domestic energy production, transport, and use—and do so regardless of the policy preferences of future U. S. leaders and electorates. Under Paris, U. S. energy markets, policies, and infrastructure would be subject to a global political pressure regime in which most parties view America as an economic rival, cash cow, or both. Does Tillerson think such an arrangement would advance or hinder critical U. S. national interests. The Senate should also be concerned about the Paris Agreement’s potential adverse impact on global human welfare. Analysis by Stephen Eule of the U. S. Chamber of Commerce’s Institute for 21 st ...

Secretary Of State Nominee Rex Tillerson Calls For 'full Review' Of Iran Nuclear Deal, Not Ripping It Up

... and verification systems to ensure Iran does not violate the agreement, which eased international sanctions against the country in exchange for destroying most of its nuclear fuel production facilities. “We need. to examine our ability to clarify whether Iran is complying,” Tillerson told the committee. “That means no nuclear enrichment in Iran, no storing of nuclear materials in Iran,” he said. Reports from the International Atomic Energy Agency, the United Nations nuclear watchdog, have not cited any significant violations by Iran since the deal was implemented last January. Tillerson also said he favored “empowering” women in the developing world. In December, the Trump transition team had raised concerns when it requested information on State Department staffing and budgets for foreign aid programs intended to help women and promote general equality. Many of the programs were begun when Hillary Clinton headed the State Department. Under questioning from the lone female member of the committee, Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N. H.), Tillerson ...

Sen. Jeanne Shaheen Responds To Rex Tillerson's Confirmation Hearing

... Was that a satisfactory answer to you. SHAHEEN: It was. I appreciated his willingness to state his opposition to that Muslim immigration ban and to talk about the importance of working with moderate Muslim countries who had rejected radical Islam. I think that's important. And I think it does distinguish his position from what we heard from President-elect Trump during the campaign. And hopefully the president-elect will listen to Rex Tillerson if he's confirmed about this issue. MCEVERS: Based on what you heard today from this nominee and your fellow senators, how would you characterize his chances of becoming secretary of state. SHAHEEN: You know, I think, as you pointed out, he got very tough questions both from Democrats and Republicans. I think, as I said, there were some areas that I had concerns about. I was disappointed that he didn't seem willing to answer some questions about positions that he had taken when he was CEO at Exxon. I found that disappointing, but I also appreciated his commitment to our democratic values, to America's leadership in the world, to our ...

Rex Tillerson Pressed On Views On Russia Relations In Confirmation Hearing

... he wants to use lightly. He needs to see more classified material. MARTIN: Real quick, is Tillerson going to get confirmed. DETROW: He has good chance. But watch people like Rubio because Republicans do have a slim margin and Rubio has been pretty skeptical and almost hostile early on in this hearing. MARTIN: NPR's Scott Detrow on the Hill. Thanks, Scott. DETROW: Sure thing. Copyright © 2017 NPR. All rights reserved. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at __link__ for further information. NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by Verb 8 tm, Inc. , an NPR contractor, and produced using a proprietary transcription process developed with NPR. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of NPR’s ...

Rex Tillerson Is Pushed On His Ties To Russia

... Trump’s pick for secretary of State, sought Wednesday to allay fears about his close ties to Russia as chief executive of Exxon Mobil. In opening remarks at his Senate confirmation hearing, Tillerson said it was necessary to remain “clear-eyed” about Russia. Tillerson, who has acknowledged a close relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin , took a harder line on Moscow than Trump has. Trump has spoken admiringly of Putin, despite U. S. intelligence reports that say the Russian leader ordered an intelligence operation intended to interfere in the U. S. presidential campaign. “Russia must know that we will be accountable to our commitments and those of our allies," Tillerson said. “Russia must be held to account for its actions.". Numerous senators, both Democrats and Republicans, expressed ...

Tillerson Sets Up Clash With Beijing

... for secretary of state set a course for a potentially serious confrontation with Beijing on Wednesday, saying China should be denied access to islands it has built in the contested South China Sea. In comments expected to enrage Beijing, Rex Tillerson told his confirmation hearing before the U. S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee that China’s building of islands and putting military assets on those islands was “akin to Russia’s taking Crimea” from Ukraine. Asked whether he supported a more aggressive posture toward China, he said: “We’re going to have to send China a clear signal that, first, the island-building stops and, second, your access to those islands also is not going to be allowed.”. The former Exxon Mobil Corp chairman and chief executive did not elaborate on what might be done to deny China access to the islands it has built up ...

Rex Tillerson Questioned About Trump's Ties To Russia In Confirmation Hearing

... were dragged out of the hearing room. (SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING). UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN: Oil is dead, and people will not stop. Senators, be brave. Stop this man. KELEMEN: Tillerson wasn't making any promises that the U. S. would continue to abide by the Paris climate change agreement. But he says Trump has asked him for his views on that. (SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING). TILLERSON: The increase in the greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere are having an effect. Our ability to predict that effect is very limited. KELEMEN: Rex Tillerson spent his entire career at Exxon and is trained as an engineer. He says he will follow the facts where they lead. He had few facts on hand, though, when Virginia Democrat Tim Kaine pressed him on suspected financial ties between the Trump Organization and Russian officials. (SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING). TILLERSON: I have no knowledge. TIM KAINE: And if I asked you the same question, and I substituted Turkey, China, Pakistan or Japan for Russia in that question, would your answer be the same. TILLERSON: I have no knowledge. KAINE: So I gather from your answer that you'll ...

Senate Confirmation Hearings Enter Second Day With Rex Tillerson, Jeff Sessions, Elaine Chao

... impeachable offense!". Bee also made a joke about Trump not paying his bills, and she was similarly skeptical of the "golden shower" claim. "The only verifiable part of this report is how much joy it gave me," she said. "It also claims the Trump campaign colluded with the Kremlin, which would be a capital offense," she added, if anybody could stop talking about that other thing. "There's a high probability this story is bullsh-t," she said, "but the fact that it's plausible bullsh-t is a terrifying statement about what our nation has come to." The only good thing about Buzz Feed's journalistic malpractice, she said, is that maybe the juicy allegation "draws attention to the less delicious details about Russia manipulating our president." Watch below — if you don't mind crude humor. Peter Weber. 1:17 a.m. ET. "I wish circumstances were different and I didn't feel the need to make public remarks today," said Walter Shaub , the director ...