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WASHINGTON, Dec. 11 (UPI) -- Exxon Mobil CEO Rex Tillerson, who has longstanding ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin, is expected to be offered the position of secretary of state. The New York Times and NBC News both cited two people close to President-elect Donald Trump's transition team as saying Tillerson is expected to be offered the position at the head of the State Department during the weekend.
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Trump spokesman Jason Miller tweeted Saturday that no official announcement of a secretary of state selection is expected until "next week at the earliest."
Tillerson has faced criticism over his lack of a background in diplomacy and his business ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin, whom he has known for more than 20 years. Putin awarded Tillerson the Order of Friendship in 2013, one year before the annexation of Crimea led to a diplomatic rift between Moscow and Washington.
Trump explained his rationale for considering Tillerson in an interview with Fox News Sunday.
"Well in his case he's much more than a business executive, I mean he's a world class player. He's in charge of I guess the largest company in the world," Trump told Fox's Chris Wallace. "He's in charge of an oil company that's pretty much double the size of his next nearest competitor. It's been a company that's been unbelievably managed. And to me a great advantage is he knows many players, and he knows them well. He does massive deals in Russia. He does massive deals , for the company, not for himself, for the company."
Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., said Tillerson's ties to Putin would need to be examined before a potential confirmation.
"I don't know what Mr. Tillerson's relationship with Vladimir Putin was, but I'll tell you it is a matter of concern to me," McCain told Fox News. "Vladimir Putin is a thug, bully and a murderer, and anybody else who describes him as anything else is lying."
