Trump’s Secretary of State Pick Questioned by Top Republican Senators

Democrats will oppose just about anyone Trump nominates, even if that nominee is Mickey Mouse himself, but for Republicans to express deep concern and opposition to the pick is a whole other story.

As Exxon-Mobil’s CEO, Tillerson’s decades-long ties to Russia and Vladimir Putin is what concerns US lawmakers.

Why?

Mr. Tillerson has been publicly skeptical about the sanctions, which have halted some of Exxon Mobil’s biggest projects in Russia, including an agreement with the state oil company to explore and pump in Siberia that could be worth tens of billions of dollars.-NY Times

Exxon Mobil stands to make a ton of cash if the sanctions are lifted, a move that could very well happen if a Russian-friendly US Secretary of State is installed.

US Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL) and John McCain (R-AZ) have both express their concern with Tillerson’s nomination, and have been two of the most outspoken critics of Putin’s Soviet-era style of  ruling with an iron fist.

McCain recently appeared on Fox News and said,“Vladimir Putin is a thug, bully and a murderer, and anybody else who describes him as anything else is lying.”

Rubio’s Senate press office released this statement about the senator’s “serious concerns” regarding the Tillerson nomination:

“While Rex Tillerson is a respected businessman, I have serious concerns about his nomination. The next secretary of state must be someone who views the world with moral clarity, is free of potential conflicts of interest, has a clear sense of America's interests, and will be a forceful advocate for America's foreign policy goals to the president, within the administration, and on the world stage.

I look forward to learning more about his record and his views. I will do my part to ensure he receives a full and fair but also thorough hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.”