Exxon Mobil CEO Rex Tillerson’s “coziness” with Russian President Vladimir Putin disqualifies him for the job of secretary of state, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said Tuesday.
“It should have eliminated him, frankly,” Pelosi, D-Calif., said on MSNBC.
Pelosi called Tillerson’s ties with Putin “alarming,” and questioned whether he would clear Senate confirmation.
In a statement released during Pelosi’s television appearance, she questioned Trump’s motives for selecting Tillerson.
“Choosing an oil executive friendly with Vladimir Putin as secretary of state sends a disturbing signal about President-elect Trump’s priorities,” Pelosi said. “Rex Tillerson’s cozy relationship with the Kremlin is especially alarming in light of his attitude toward sanctions over Russia’s aggressive behavior in Europe, while at the same time the president-elect continues to side with Russia over the judgment of the U.S. intelligence community.”
Pelosi questioned Tillerson’s preparation for the job of top U.S. diplomat. “Fawning over Putin is poor preparation for being the top diplomat of the United States of America,” Pelosi said.
A handful of Senate Republicans Tuesday withheld their support of Tillerson and said they were worried about his relationship with Putin, who awarded Tillerson the Order of Friendship, the nation’s highest honor.
“This is not a match,” Pelosi said. “Even Republicans in Congress recognize that. We’ll see how the confirmation goes.”
Pelosi also said she opposes Trump’s decision to make former Gov. Rick Perry his energy secretary.
“In Governor Rick Perry, a person who wants to eliminate the Department he’s been picked to lead, President-elect Trump has nominated yet another champion of the special interests,” Pelosi said in a statement Tuesday. “The Secretary’s decisions must be evidence-based. Governor Perry is an anti-science, climate change denier nominated to fill a critical cabinet post most recently held by two physicists, including a Nobel laureate.”
