Nancy Pelosi Says Tillerson’s Dismissal Proves The Administration Is “At The Mercy” Of Trump’s Worship Of Putin

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Trump abruptly fired Rex Tillerson from his cabinet position as Secretary of State on Tuesday, and while Trump says it’s because the they “disagreed on things,” the timing of his decision already has people questioning if Russia had anything to do with it.

On Monday night, Tillerson told reporters that Russia was “clearly” behind the poisoning of an ex-Russian spy and his daughter in the UK, describing it as “a really egregious act.”

Hours later, Tillerson was unceremoniously fired through an announcement the president made on Twitter.

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi released a searing statement slamming Trump for his apparent loyalty to Russia and Putin:

Secretary Tillerson’s firing sets a profoundly disturbing precedent in which standing up for our allies against Russian aggression is grounds for a humiliating dismissal. President Trump’s actions show that every official in his Administration is at the mercy of his personal whims and his worship of Putin.

It is no wonder that the President has trouble attracting high-caliber people to his. Administration when he undercuts and humiliates those he supposedly respects.

Whenever Tillerson’s successor goes into meetings with foreign leaders, his credibility will be diminished as someone who could be here today and gone tomorrow. Continuity in our diplomatic personnel and policies are vital for championing American security, values, and interests.

Tillerson’s successor must approach the grave threat of Russian foreign aggression with the seriousness and urgency that it demands. As Director Pompeo has stated, he has “every expectation” Russia will attack our democracy again. America must be ready.

Tillerson is speculated to have been originally hired for his deep and long-running ties to Russia and Putin — a recent report by The New Yorker states Trump might have even passed on Mitt Romney in favor of Tillerson after Russians pushed him to pick a candidate more sympathetic to their agendas.