White House Denies President Trump Is Dumping Rex Tillerson

(WASHINGTON) – The State Department says White House chief of staff John Kelly is disputing reports of a plan to replace Secretary of State Rex Tillerson.

State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert says Kelly called Tillerson’s chief of staff, Margaret Peterlin, on Thursday to say the “rumors are not true.”

Nauert says Tillerson serves at the president’s pleasure and remains in his role until told otherwise. She says that Tillerson “brushed this off today” because he’s heard such stories before.

Nauert says Tillerson is “going about his business” and will travel to Europe on an official trip starting Monday.