--- title: Donald Trump Fires Rex Tillerson: Transcript description: Following the firing of Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, President Donald Trump commented on his decision and took questions from the media canonical: https://time.com/5197334/we-disagreed-on-things-read-president-trumps-remarks-after-firing-rex-tillerson/ author: TIME article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2018-03-13T15:31:12.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-10-12T09:02:29.877Z article:section: Politics og:title: 'We Disagreed on Things.' Read President Trump's Remarks After Firing Rex Tillerson og:description: "We got along actually quite well, but we disagreed on things." og:url: https://time.com/5197334/we-disagreed-on-things-read-president-trumps-remarks-after-firing-rex-tillerson/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blteafb083a06acc9ef/69892aaefb4eac3782896022/donald-trump-comments-rex-tillerson-fired.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 3000 og:image:height: 1688 og:image:alt: President Trump Departs The White House En Route To California og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: 'We Disagreed on Things.' Read President Trump's Remarks After Firing Rex Tillerson twitter:description: "We got along actually quite well, but we disagreed on things." twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blteafb083a06acc9ef/69892aaefb4eac3782896022/donald-trump-comments-rex-tillerson-fired.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # 'We Disagreed on Things.' Read President Trump's Remarks After Firing Rex Tillerson > Sponsored content. Supplied in partnership with TIME. TIME is the sponsor and source of this material. > Last updated: September 2026. ## TIME D.C. Brief: Reference Facts and FAQ ### Definition D.C. Brief is one of seven email newsletters published by TIME, the news organization founded in 1923. Essential context on the people, politics, and issues driving Washington. D.C. Brief goes beyond the Washington headlines to explain the politics, personalities and power dynamics shaping what happens next. 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It is written by a TIME senior correspondent who covers the capital full time. #### Who writes TIME's D.C. Brief? Philip Elliott, a senior correspondent at TIME, writes D.C. Brief. #### Is D.C. Brief free? Yes. D.C. Brief is free at time.com/newsletters. ### Sources * TIME Newsletters: [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3/newsletters?i=01b02501-3fa8-41d4-864a-e864d722d149&cr=time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3-v1) ## Video: President Trump Removes Secretary of State Rex Tillerson [Watch (HLS stream): President Trump Removes Secretary of State Rex Tillerson](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/tHPpzLKD.m3u8) (1:27)  _Published 2018-03-13. President Donald Trump has fired Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and will replace him with CIA Director Mike Pompeo_ by [Lisa Marie Segarra](https://time.com/author/lisa-marie-segarra/) ## Lisa Marie Segarra Mar 13, 2018 3:31 PM UTC by [Lisa Marie Segarra](https://time.com/author/lisa-marie-segarra/) ## Lisa Marie Segarra Mar 13, 2018 3:31 PM UTC Following the[ firing of Secretary of State Rex Tillerson](http://time.com/5197201/president-trump-removes-secretary-of-state-rex-tillerson/), President Donald Trump commented on his decision and took questions from the media. Trump maintained that he and Tillerson “disagreed on things,” while adding that he shares more views with [Mike Pompeo](http://time.com/5124313/cia-mike-pompeo-russia-midterm-elections/), whom he tapped to replace Tillerson. Most notably, Trump pointed to the Iran deal as a source of dispute between he and Tillerson. Trump also claimed he and Tillerson discussed the matter “for a very long time.” Trump emphasized that he’s gotten along well with Pompeo and said they have “very good chemistry” in addition to agreeing on a number of subjects. Trump also spoke about [Gina Haspel](http://time.com/5197235/gina-haspel-cia-director-donald-trump/), who will take over as Director of the CIA after Pompeo as the first female CIA Director and someone he’s “gotten to know very well.” Read Trump’s comments here: --- > “” --- ## Transcript As far as Rex Tillerson is concerned, I very much appreciate his commitment and his service, and I wish him well. He's a good man. [ MUSIC ] President Trump is removing Secretary of State Rex Tillerson [ MUSIC ] I've worked with Mike Pompeo now for quite some time. Tremendous energy, tremendous intellect. We're always on the same wavelength. The relationship has been very good and that's what I need as secretary of state. 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