Rex Tillerson Speaks After Sack As US Secretary Of State

US Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson, who was fired by President Donald Trump on Tuesday, said he was delegating all of his responsibilities to the State Department’s No. 2 official.

He also disclosed that he would leave office at the end of the month.

Tillerson spoke to reporters in a packed briefing room at the State Department in Washington.

“What is most important is to ensure an orderly and smooth transition during a time that the country continues to face significant policy and national security challenges,” he said.

Tillerson said “much work remains’’ to respond to “troubling behaviour and actions’’ by Russia.

He added that the Russian government “must assess carefully’’ how its actions are in the best interest of the Russian people “and of the world more broadly.’’

“Continuing on their current trajectory is likely to lead to greater isolation on their part, a situation which is not in anyone’s interest,’’ the outgoing top U.S. diplomat says.