Foreign Policy

Report: Tillerson Might Resign

Written by SK Ashby

People close to Secretary of State Rex Tillerson told CNN that he's probably going to resign from his position at the end of the year, but others say his resignation may come sooner rather than later.

If these accounts are to be believed, Tillerson is coming around to the idea that he occupies an ineffectual and pointless position.

For weeks, conversations with Tillerson friends outside of Washington have left the impression that he, despite his frustrations, was determined to stay on the job at least through the end of the year. That would allow time to continue efforts to reorganize the State Department and would mean he could claim to have put in a year as America's top diplomat.

But two sources who spoke to CNN on condition of anonymity over the weekend said they would not be surprised if there was a "Rexit" from Foggy Bottom sooner that that.

Both of these sources are familiar with Tillerson conversations with friends outside Washington. Both said there was a noticeable increase in the secretary's frustration and his doubts that the tug-of-war with the White House would subside anytime soon.

No shit?

I was going to say he hasn't accomplished anything as secretary of state, but that's not necessarily true depending on your perspective. We may not view it as a great accomplishment, but he has shuttered numerous offices at the State Department including the war crimes office. That was one of his stated goals.

In the realm of foreign policy, however, Tillerson hasn't done anything. He can't. Whether Tillerson believes other countries should be seen as allies or adversaries, it more or less doesn't matter. Virtually every initiative or mission Tillerson has been dispatched on has ended in failure because Trump tweeted about it while he was on the toilet the next morning.

It's hard for me to imagine that Tillerson's replacement, whoever it may be, will have a different experience. Everything Trump touches turns to shit and everyone who works with him is eventually humiliated.