Senate confirms Tillerson as US secretary of state
By a vote of 56 to 43, Tillerson has been confirmed for secretary of state
Rex Tillerson, the former chairman and chief executive officer of Exxon Mobil, smiles during his testimony before a Senate Foreign Relations Committee confirmation hearing on his nomination to be U.S. secretary of state in Washington, U.S. January 11, 2017. PHOTO: REUTERS
WASHINGTON:
The US Senate on Wednesday confirmed former ExxonMobil chief Rex Tillerson as the next secretary of state, handing a major boost to President Donald Trump as he builds his cabinet.
Narrow approval: US Senate panel clears Rex Tillerson’s path
Tillerson, 70, had come in for severe criticism from Democrats who warned that his business approach and lack of government experience would hurt America's standing in the world.
But he was confirmed by a vote of 56 to 43, with four Democrats joining all 52 Republicans voting in favor.
The US Senate on Wednesday confirmed former ExxonMobil chief Rex Tillerson as the next secretary of state, handing a major boost to President Donald Trump as he builds his cabinet.
Narrow approval: US Senate panel clears Rex Tillerson’s path
Tillerson, 70, had come in for severe criticism from Democrats who warned that his business approach and lack of government experience would hurt America's standing in the world.
But he was confirmed by a vote of 56 to 43, with four Democrats joining all 52 Republicans voting in favor.