Former House speaker Newt Gingrich lauded Donald Trump’s chosen department chiefs as “what may be the smartest cabinet of modern times” Tuesday morning, hours after news broke of the president-elect’s selection of Rex Tillerson for secretary of state.
Gingrich retorted criticism of the ExxonMobil CEO’s suitability for the post, predicting Tillerson’s international relationships would serve the United States well—and, in turn, change the world’s perception of Trump for the better.
“[Tillerson] is going to be so well-received around the planet, that, combined with [Secretary of Defense nominee General James] Mattis, he automatically changes who people think Trump is. They now, around the world, think Trump is smart enough to hire really smart people, and he’s going to give them really smart orders,” he remarked during a speech at the Heritage Foundation in the nation’s capital.
“Now, if you’re John Kerry, or Hillary Clinton, or the entire State Department, and your entire career has been one of going around the world unsuccessfully and negotiating non-agreements, then Tillerson is horrifying. I mean, what if he actually effectively represents America? What if we actually get good deals that create jobs in America? What if he’s actually able to explain Trumpism to the world?”
Several Republican senators expressed concern about the potential elevation of Tillerson in recent days, given his business ties to Russia and friendly relations with President Vladimir Putin. “Being a ‘friend of Vladimir’ is not an attribute I am hoping for from a #SecretaryOfState,” Florida senator Marco Rubio tweeted Sunday.
But outside the upper chamber, top diplomats under former Republican presidents recommended Tillerson for the job. George H.W. Bush secretary of state James Baker reportedly advised Trump to tab Tillerson, and George W. Bush-era cabinet members Robert Gates and Condoleeza Rice touted him to the president-elect. Baker, Gates, and Rice all have varying degrees of business associations with Exxon.
“I know Rex as a successful business man and a patriot. He will represent the interests and the values of the United States with resolve and commitment,” Rice stated Tuesday.
Her and her cohort’s praise caught the attention of frequent Trump skeptic Jeff Flake, one of Rubio’s Senate colleagues.
“The fact that Condi Race, James Baker, and Bob Gates are recommending Tillerson carries considerable weight,” he tweeted. “I look forward to the hearings.”
