Donald Trump blasted for firing Rex Tillerson after saying claims were “fake news”
Rex Tillerson is out as secretary of state. President Trump announced via Twitter that he was replacing Tillerson with CIA director Mike Pompeo.
Mike Pompeo, Director of the CIA, will become our new Secretary of State. He will do a fantastic job! Thank you to Rex Tillerson for his service! Gina Haspel will become the new Director of the CIA, and the first woman so chosen. Congratulations to all!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 13, 2018
The State Department released a statement about the firing that said Tillerson and Trump “did not speak” prior to the tweet, adding that Tillerson “is unaware of the reason for his dismissal. The Secretary had every intention of staying because of the critical progress made in national security.”
While Washington remains diplomatic about the ongoing firings at the White House, the internet couldn’t help but point out the irony in Trump’s action today, and his recent claims about “fake news” on Twitter. On Dec. 1, Trump commented on the media’s speculation that he was about to fire Tillerson.
The media has been speculating that I fired Rex Tillerson or that he would be leaving soon – FAKE NEWS! He’s not leaving and while we disagree on certain subjects, (I call the final shots) we work well together and America is highly respected again!https://t.co/FrqiPLFJ1E
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 1, 2017
Users mocked Trump for the discrepancy, and questioned the validity of the president crying “fake news.”
Remember all those stories @POTUS called ‘fake news’ that turned out to be not fake after all? Like the ‘fake’ one about Rex Tillerson soon being ousted/fired? Keep that in mind the next time he calls something ‘fake news’.
— Keith Gosse (@TelyPhotoGosse) March 13, 2018
The media was right after all and not fake news. You indeed fired Rex Tillerson . So we should believe the media after all.
— William Long (@Williewill037) March 13, 2018
When the New York Times reported in November that Trump would replace Rex Tillerson with Mike Pompeo, Trump called it “fake news.”
Today, Trump replaced Rex Tillerson with Mike Pompeo. #AnotherTrumpLie
— Eli Beckman (@elihbeckman) March 13, 2018
FAKE news becomes REAL news. Not speculations! Rex Tillerson fired! pic.twitter.com/MOZKHjZMEu
— A Karani Onsomu (@erwoti) March 13, 2018
THEN: “The media has been speculating that I fired Rex Tillerson or that he would be leaving soon – FAKE NEWS! He’s not leaving”… TODAY: ?? Not sure how much more proof you need, @realDonaldTrump is a pathological liar & unfit to serve as POTUS #Rexit pic.twitter.com/Gq07YZ1JPk
— DK (@YourMomOnCoffee) March 13, 2018
So jackass @realDonaldTrump claimed his unhappiness with Rex Tillerson was “fake news” months ago and today he fires him? The only thing fake is his Presidency! Main stream media had it right all along! Kudos @ChrisCuomo and @jaketapper
— Kevin (@boone0423) March 13, 2018
So when the media claimed that Rex Tillerson would be leaving, Trump claimed fake news. Hmmm, imagine that. #trump #impeach #tillerson
— Sam Fraulino (@samfraulino) March 13, 2018
Surprisingly, Trump actually responded to questions about why he fired Tillerson. He told reporters, “We were not really thinking the same. With Mike Pompeo, we have a similar thought process.”
A senior administration official added that Trump “thought it was the right time for the transition, with the upcoming North Korea talks and various trade negotiations.”
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