This morning, President Trump took to Twitter to inform the country – as well as the Secretary of State himself – that Rex Tillerson would be replaced by current 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
Upon hearing the news, former press secretary Sean Spicer, who himself was ousted in July 2017, took to Twitter in an attempt to offer kind words to the outgoing Secretary of State — attempt being the operative word.
Secretary Tillerson is a true patriot that has severed our nation well. Thank you for serving. Mike Pompeo will be an outstanding Secretary of State – the Senate should act swiftly to confirm him https://t.co/J8Eo0harb9
— Sean Spicer (@seanspicer) March 13, 2018
In fact, Rex having “severed” our nation is perhaps one of the only accurate phrases that Spicer has muttered. Tillerson leaves the State Department that he oversaw in complete disarray, with reports of “low morale” and “unease” among the few remaining staff abounding under his leadership while dozens upon dozens of key positions remain unfilled.
Spicer, for his part, has had a rocky relationship with words, an unfortunate quality for someone whose job it was to act as a mouthpiece for the President of the United States. Of course, in the spirit of credit where credit’s due, this time, he hit the mark perfectly.
Follow Brian Tyler Cohen on Facebook and Twitter.
