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---
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
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article:published_time: 2018-03-13T15:31:12.000Z
article:modified_time: 2026-02-23T19:37:59.921Z
article:section: Politics
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![](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

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by 

[Lisa Marie Segarra](https://time.com/author/lisa-marie-segarra/)


## Lisa Marie Segarra


Mar 13, 2018 3:31 PM UTC

![President Trump Departs The White House En Route To California](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=3:2)

U.S. President Donald Trump answers questions from the media after the firing of Secretary of State Rex Tillerson before departing from the White House on March 13, 2018 in Washington, DC. President Trump is traveling to California to view prototypes of a proposed border wall.

U.S. President Donald Trump answers questions from the media after the firing of Secretary of State Rex Tillerson before departing from the White House on March 13, 2018 in Washington, DC. President Trump is traveling to California to view prototypes of a proposed border wall.Photo by Mark Wilson—Getty Images

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:

---

> “”

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